Magnetic nanoparticle-vesicle aggregates (MNPVs), a controlled release nanostructure, have been enhanced with the inclusion of a novel galactose terminated lipid for cell targeting. Quartz crystal microgravimetry with dissipation (QCM-D) demonstrated that the galactose headgroup was available to bind Erythrina Crista-galli lectin (ECL) when the lipid was incorporated into a lipid bilayer. Similarly, UV-visible spectrophotometry indicated that ECL recognized the galactose headgroup in vesicles, leading to vesicle adhesion and aggregation. Finally, confocal fluorescence microscopy was used to assess the galactose-mediated interaction of both vesicles and MNPVs with HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells expressing the asialoglycoprotein (ASGPR) galactose receptor.

Semi-flexible polymer networks generate a diverse family of structures. The network generating behaviors of specific semi-flexible biological filaments are well known (i.e. F-actin, microtubules, DNA etc.), however recent developments in tunable synthetic filaments extend the range of accessible structures. A similarly tunable model was developed using the molecular dynamics platform NAMD to provide a guide for generating synthetic filament networks. Structural characteristics of simulated networks may be quantitatively examined using connectivity analysis, radial pair distribution functions and scaling analysis. These methods provide a basis to calculate morphological properties, including mesh size, packing order, network connectivity, avg. cluster size, filaments per bundle, and space-filling dimensionality. An analytic toolset for describing the structure of filament networks is thus provided by detailing these methods.

Nanomaterials engineered in novel multi-modular systems in which every component works in a synergistic way with others could potentially lead to a completely new type of tools for nanomedicine. The development of nanostructures able to release drugs directly within the target after a stimulus can drastically improve the therapeutics efficiency by reducing side effects. Gold nanoparticles offer one of the most suitable platforms for the development of modular nano-devices. On the one hand, their surface properties enable effective coating by peptides containing at least one cysteine, thus yielding stable and non-cytotoxic systems. On the other, their intriguing photophysics, characterized by the surface plasmon resonance, can be exploited for novel excitation schemes. Doxorubicin is a widely used, but toxic, cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In order to localize its therapeutic action while minimizing its side effects, doxorubicin was covalently conjugated to 30 nm peptide-encapsulated gold nanospheres by click-chemistry and then it was photo-released in a controlled fashion through the cleavage of the 1,2,3-triazolic ring by a multiphoton process using 561 nm irradiation at µW power. Selective apoptosis of human osteosarcoma (U2OS) cells was observed only in the irradiated 100x100 micron area in less than six minutes after the stimulus. Notably, the apoptotic effect of doxorubicin was completely inhibited for at least eight hours until its release “on demand” was externally light-triggered.

The condensation of hydrazides with aldehydes has been found to be a simple and rapid method for synthesizing catechol-terminated coating reagents for magnetite nanoparticles. This approach allowed the production of biotin- and polyethylene glycol-functionalized nanoparticles, whose interaction with 3T3 fibroblast cells has been assessed. The cellular location of these nanoparticles was imaged by fluorescence microscopy, which was made possible by co-coating with a porphyrin-catechol conjugate. Images show significant interactions between biotinylated nanoparticles and 3T3 fibroblasts, but those with a polyethylene glycol coating did not interact.

This work presents a strategy to perform ex-vivo cell-drug interaction studies through electro-kinetically assisted drug delivery system. Here, we present a novel technique to electro-kinetically control the vesicles carrying drug to deliver to pre-determined locations. In order to achieve efficient targeted drug delivery, effect of electrokinetic attractive and repulsive forces on liposomes and target cells were studied and presented. The device consists of a simple bifurcated microfluidic chamber and microelectrodes that assist in carrying the liposomes to the target location. To test the prototype, fully grown human embryonic kidney cell lines (HEK 293) and trypsin as test drug was used. External electrical signal with voltages less than of 5 V peak-to-peak (Vpp) for cells and 10 Vpp for liposomes were applied over a spectrum of frequencies to study the effect of electrokinetic forces. Through this label-free method, we were able to study loading and unloading efficiency of the drug without altering the natural properties of the liposomes and target cells. In this study, characterization and performance comparison studies for two different types of materials (HEK cells and liposomes) were performed. We were able to achieve an overall efficiency of approximately 85%. Various electrical parameters such as applied voltage, frequency and conductivity were manipulated to study the drug-cell interaction. This electrokinetic based method will be highly applicable in understanding the effect on drugs on cell populations ex vivo.

The goal of this study was to determine the potential use of starch Pickering emulsion as a vehicle to deliver a natural phenolic compound, curcumin in the oral cavity. To this end, an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion was prepared using starch molecules as the stabilizer/emulsifier. The physical stability, oxygen permeability and release of curcumin from the starch Pickering emulsion in simulated saliva fluid (SSF) were determined. The results of this study showed that the starch stabilized o/w emulsions were stable for up to 2 weeks. The starch Pickering emulsion also provided better protection against oxidation than a surfactant-stabilized emulsion, and the digestion of the starch Pickering emulsion using amylase led to the complete disruption and phase separation of the emulsion.