Core-Shell Nanoparticle-Hydrogel Systems
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Grant: NSF
Sampson Ugoaru
CoPIs:
Salvatore Coniglio, Adeeb Hayajneh , Dariel Ondieki, Jocelyn Herelle, Miranda Soto
College:
The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology
Major:
Biotechnology/Molecular Biology
Faculty Research Advisor(s):
Derrick Swinton
Abstract:
Hybrid core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) modified with stimuli-responsive hydrogel shells are finding widespread usage in a range of technologies, from pollutant detection and catalysts to photo optic devices and are being investigated for applications in many others. Challenges to using NPs as drug delivery systems include biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, controlled release of bioactive agents, and target specificity, which are influenced by deleterious adsorption of biomolecules at the interface of these NPs. Once inside a complex biological environment, a protein corona is formed, which influences the behavior of the NPs. The protein corona is influenced by the surface chemistry and morphology of the NP. This structure-function relationship and influence on the corona is of critical importance in designing hybrid core-shell NPs for biomedical applications. Therefore, further research and a deeper understanding of biomolecule-interfacial interactions with NPs should be critically evaluated. Particularly challenging is the ability to quantitatively measure or predict binding constants of biomolecules at interfaces and the ability to determine the conformational states of adsorbed molecules at interfaces. Another challenge and area understudied is the influence of the biomolecule on the conformational dynamics of the polymer surface.