Nanotechnology for Drug Delivery
School Name
South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Biochemistry
Presentation Type
Mentored
Abstract
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in 2016, more than five million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease. If the blood-brain barrier can be penetrated through the use of nanotechnology, degenerative brain diseases can be properly treated. Our goal was to successfully use our knowledge of amphiphilic polymers to create nanoparticles and encapsulate proteins. In order to do this, we used polymer poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PEG-PLGA), protein bovine serum albumin (BSA), and protein Fluorescein Isothiocyanate‐conjugated bovine serum albumin (FITC BSA) to conduct our experiment. The polymer PEG-PLGA will self assemble once placed into a solution to create a nanoparticle. We wanted to determine if the nanoparticle would encapsulate the protein. We injected the PEG-PLGA into two solutions, one containing BSA and the other FITC BSA. The solution was then measured using the Nano Zetasizer, which yielded the size of the nanoparticles. Once the measurement was taken, the solution was then dialyzed to remove any free particles from inside the nanoparticle. Since we know the size of a nanoparticle without protein we were able to confirm whether or not the nanoparticle successfully encapsulated the protein. The nanoparticles that contained the proteins were, larger in size, 170.9 d.nm than the nanoparticles that did not contain the protein which was 138.0 d.nm in size. We were successful in both encapsulating and synthesizing the nanoparticles. With this knowledge of nanoparticles, further research would include the use of these nanoparticles in therapeutic applications.
Recommended Citation
Lopez De Leon, Moira and Virgil-Green, Najé, "Nanotechnology for Drug Delivery" (2020). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 17.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2020/all/17
Location
Furman Hall 118
Start Date
3-28-2020 10:00 AM
Presentation Format
Oral Only
Group Project
Yes
Nanotechnology for Drug Delivery
Furman Hall 118
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in 2016, more than five million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease. If the blood-brain barrier can be penetrated through the use of nanotechnology, degenerative brain diseases can be properly treated. Our goal was to successfully use our knowledge of amphiphilic polymers to create nanoparticles and encapsulate proteins. In order to do this, we used polymer poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PEG-PLGA), protein bovine serum albumin (BSA), and protein Fluorescein Isothiocyanate‐conjugated bovine serum albumin (FITC BSA) to conduct our experiment. The polymer PEG-PLGA will self assemble once placed into a solution to create a nanoparticle. We wanted to determine if the nanoparticle would encapsulate the protein. We injected the PEG-PLGA into two solutions, one containing BSA and the other FITC BSA. The solution was then measured using the Nano Zetasizer, which yielded the size of the nanoparticles. Once the measurement was taken, the solution was then dialyzed to remove any free particles from inside the nanoparticle. Since we know the size of a nanoparticle without protein we were able to confirm whether or not the nanoparticle successfully encapsulated the protein. The nanoparticles that contained the proteins were, larger in size, 170.9 d.nm than the nanoparticles that did not contain the protein which was 138.0 d.nm in size. We were successful in both encapsulating and synthesizing the nanoparticles. With this knowledge of nanoparticles, further research would include the use of these nanoparticles in therapeutic applications.
