pH-responsive mechanised nanoparticles gated by semirotaxanes

Niveen M Khashab1, Matthew E Belowich, Ali Trabolsi

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|September 3, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a new water-soluble pseudorotaxane nanoparticle system for drug delivery. This system operates in acidic environments, enhancing biocompatibility for improved therapeutic applications.

Related Concept Videos

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Stimuli-Activated01:30

Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Stimuli-Activated

Stimuli-activated drug delivery systems are designed to release drugs in response to specific physical, chemical, or biological stimuli. These systems often utilize hydrogels—three-dimensional, hydrophilic polymer networks capable of swelling in aqueous environments and retaining significant fluid volumes. Upon exposure to particular stimuli, these hydrogels undergo structural transitions that allow the embedded drug to be released. Due to this adaptive behavior, such systems are also called...