Drug delivery: small packages bring big results
14 July 2013
Researchers have developed an efficient system to coat tiny objects, such as bacterial cells, with thin films that assemble themselves.
Image courtesy of the University of Melbourne
The technique could have important implications for drug delivery as well as biomedical and environmental applications.
Published July 12 in the journal Science, Professor Frank Caruso from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The University of Melbourne and his team have developed a new strategy to coat microscopic materials, leading to a new-generation particle system with engineered properties.
This is expected to underpin advances in the delivery of therapeutics in the areas of cancer, vaccines, cardiovascular disease and neural health.
The capsules can be engineered to degrade under different conditions, providing opportunities for the timed release of substances contained inside the capsules.
"Nanoengineered capsules are attracting much attention as drug carriers, as they have the potential to improve the delivery and effectiveness of drugs while reducing their side effects," he said