Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program
SELF-ASSEMBLED SOFT NANOSCTRUCTURES FOR POTENTIAL USE IN DRUG DELIVERY
An ongoing theme in our lab is to develop "soft" materials with nanoscale structure via self assembly. Self-assembly implies the spontaneous formation of a desired structure with no external input of energy, an approach that is frequently exploited by biomolecular systems. In this REU project, we will focus on self-assembled structures that could be useful in drug delivery or biomedical applications. These include (a) vesicles or liposomes; (b) reverse wormlike micelles; and (c) fibrillar hydrogels. A vesicle is a water filled nanocontainer enveloped by a lipid or surfactant bilayer (much like a cell membrane). Reverse wormlike micelles are water-filled flexible tubes formed in oils. The water based core in vesicles and reverse micelles can serve as a reservoir for drugs or other bio-active compounds, which can be slowly released over time. The third type of structure involves the self-assembly of small biomolecules into tubes and fibrils in water, which in turn form a cohesive gel network. These hydrogels could be loaded with drug and could find application in tissue reconstruction or wound healing.
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