Russian scientists at the Lomonosov Moscow State University are reporting the development of new drug ferrying nano-capsules that work fundamentally differently than existing nanoparticles. Each capsule consists of two concentric polymer shells that swell at different temperatures. The outer shell protects the capsule and also prevents the capsules from sticking to one another when they’re releasing their cargo, a problem that has confounded researchers for a while. The inner shell has pores that grow larger as it swells in size, allowing the release of compounds within.
Building the structure was difficult and involved using a silica core around which the shells were created and then the core dissolved to create an empty space.
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At this stage, the work was purely fundamental and was intended primarily to demonstrate the effectiveness of the concept. Experiments were carried out in the temperature range of 32-42°C. It is slightly more than the temperature range favorable for a human, although in the future this range can be easily narrowed, states Igor Potemkin.
The scientific collaboration is going to be prolonged for another four years. ‘There are still many questions,’ the scientist says. ‘For example, we have “caught” a structure in which a cavity does not collapse as the pores are closed. Now we need to understandwhy it happens, how does the density of the layers’ crosslink effect, i.e., what is the minimum amount of crosslinker that does not lead to a collapse of the cavity, and so on. ”
Potemkin is sure that in any case the created nano-containers are the ideal carriers for targeted drug delivery. Moreover, their synthesis is neither complex nor really expensive. Although at current stage of research it is difficult to pronounce the precise cost, the collaboration’s plans already include the creation of the large-scale,commercially acceptable production of nanogels.
Study in Scientific Reports: Multi-Shell Hollow Nanogels with Responsive Shell Permeability…
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