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Full-Text Articles in Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
Polysaccharide-Based Nanocarriers For Improved Drug Delivery, Nan Zhang
Polysaccharide-Based Nanocarriers For Improved Drug Delivery, Nan Zhang
Dissertations - ALL
The field of drug delivery has provided a solution to the limited efficacy and high toxicity of many drugs. Nano-sized drug carriers are popular because their size allows for selective accumulation in the diseased area. Polysaccharides are non-toxic and biodegradable natural polymers that can serve as the basis for these nano-sized carriers. Polysialic acid (PSA) is such a polysaccharide with strong hydrophilicity that may reduce uptake by the reticuloendothelial system and prolong drug circulation. In this study, we developed PSA-based nanocarriers, specifically micelles and nanoparticles, for improved drug delivery with improved efficacy and minimized toxicity. PSA-based micelle systems were developed …
Structure And Optical Properties Of Self-Assembled Multicomponent Plasmonic Nanogels, Tao Cong, Satvik N. Wani, Peter Anthony Paynter, Radhakrishna Sureshkumar
Structure And Optical Properties Of Self-Assembled Multicomponent Plasmonic Nanogels, Tao Cong, Satvik N. Wani, Peter Anthony Paynter, Radhakrishna Sureshkumar
Biomedical and Chemical Engineering - All Scholarship
Multicomponent plasmonic nanogels (PNGs) capable of broadband absorption of light in the 400-700 nm wavelength range were synthesized by the self-assembly of metal nanoparticles with wormlike surfactant micelles. Small angle x-ray scattering and rheological experiments suggest that the nanoparticles bridge micelle fragments to aid the formation a stable gel phase with exceptional color uniformity. Their optical absorbance could be robustly tuned by changing the nanoparticle type (Au/Ag), size, shape, and/or concentration. The PNGs have relatively low viscosity and are thermoreversible. Potential applications to the manufacturing of coatings and interfaces for solar energy harvesting and reconfigurable optical devices can be envisioned.