Synthesis and Dynamics of Biocompatible Nanomotors for Biomedical Applications Conference Poster uri icon

abstract

  • Janus nanoparticles' surfaces have two distinct halves comprised of different materials. The
    interest in use of hybrid nanoparticles with Janus structure such as Au-SiO2 nanoparticles has
    increased continuously as they bring the advantage of combining the properties of both gold and
    silica nanoparticles. Both of these components have been proven to be biologically compatible. It
    has also been shown that combining gold with inorganic materials can help with problems
    previously observed with aggregation. In addition, SiO2 offers the benefit of having a surface that
    can be easily modified. In this research we plan to functionalize half of the Janus Au-SiO2
    nanoparticle by adding carboxyl groups to the portion made up of SiO2. The purpose of this
    functionalization is to later conjugate enzymes to the surface of this nanoparticle using carboxyl
    groups as linkers. The enzymes can then be activated to provide directed movement to the
    nanoparticle by means of catalytic propulsion. The result will be a biocompatible self-propelled
    nanomotor that could serve many diverse functions in biomedicine. Particle transport with and
    without activation will be conducted on a microfluidic device and confocal laser scanning
    microscopy, to elucidate the role of viscous forces present in complex media and important
    diffusive times scales.

publication date

  • May 4, 2019