Nanoscopic probing of amphiphilic polysaccharide drug carriers

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Terri A. Camesano, terric@wpi.edu1, Yatao Liu1, Elise Rotureau, Elise.Rotureau@wur.nl2, Alain Durand3, and Michèle Léonard3. (1) Department of Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Rd., Goddard Hall, Worcester, MA 01609, (2) Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science, Wageningen University, Postbus 9101, 6700 HB Wageningen, Netherlands, (3) LCPM, Ecole Nationale Superieure des Industries Chimiques, 1 Rue Grandville, 54000 Nancy, France
Polymeric nanoparticles were synthesized to be used as drug carriers. Hydrophobically- modified dextran-derived polymers were created that are both biocompatible and effective at creating extremely stable emulsions. These emulsions are used as coatings on nanoparticles for drug encapsulation. The conformation of the modified polysaccharides was characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS). Various substrates were used for the AFM experiments (glass, mica, gold; silane- and dodecanethiol-treated surfaces). Adsorption of the biopolymers to the different surfaces was studied in terms of molecular conformation and adhesion forces with the AFM tip. The polymer molecular weight and degree of hydrophobic modification affects the steric interactions detected from AFM force profiles, and also changes the way the polymer interacts with the AFM tip. These results are being used to optimize the design of natural polymers for drug encapsulation and delivery. -->
 

Nanomaterials and Biological Applications: Diagnostic, Imaging, Biosensing and Drug Delivery
2:00 PM-5:15 PM, Sunday, August 19, 2007 BCEC -- 153C, Oral

Division of Colloid & Surface Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007