Drug Delivery with Gel Nano-Capsules
This report describes basic science research with gel nano-capsules for drug delivery at Lomonosov Moscow State University. The key finding is that it’s possible to create double shelled particles that can be filled and released by changes in temperature. As the researchers describe it: “. . . the inner cavity of which, like an egg with two shells, is surrounded by two ‘membranes’ of different chemical structures. The outer porous shell plays a protective (stabilizing) role and hinders aggregation of the nano-capsules, while the pores of the inner shell can open and close depending on the temperature due to the variable interactions between its monomeric units. At the time of filling, the pores of both shells are open and the nanogel absorbs the drug molecules as a sponge. Then the temperature changes and the pores of the inner shell close, and locked in the cavity, the drug is ready for the delivery. Subsequently, the pores will open again and the guest molecules will be released only in the places where the temperature allows.” MORE
Image Credit: Lomonosov Moscow State University and MDTMag.com