Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Macromolecules released from polymers: diffusion into unstirred fluids.

M L Radomsky1, K J Whaley, R A Cone

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218.

Biomaterials
|November 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Exploiting Metabolic Defects in Glioma with Nanoparticle-Encapsulated NAMPT Inhibitors.

Molecular cancer therapeutics·2024
Same author

Monobody adapter for functional antibody display on nanoparticles for adaptable targeted delivery applications.

Nature communications·2022
Same author

Vaginal lactic acid elicits an anti-inflammatory response from human cervicovaginal epithelial cells and inhibits production of pro-inflammatory mediators associated with HIV acquisition.

Mucosal immunology·2017
Same author

Developing multipurpose reproductive health technologies: an integrated strategy.

AIDS research and treatment·2013
Same author

Nerve growth factor delivery and cell aggregation enhance choline acetyltransferase activity after neural transplantation.

Tissue engineering·2009
Same author

Initial evaluation of the use of USPIO cell labeling and noninvasive MR monitoring of human tissue-engineered vascular grafts in vivo.

FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·2008
Same journal

Corrigendum to "Enhanced fluorescence imaging guided photodynamic therapy of sinoporphyrin sodium loaded graphene oxide" [Biomaterials 42 (2015) 16442].

Biomaterials·2026
Same journal

An injectable Ce-MnCo LDH nanozyme gel with cascade catalytic activity for acute radiation proctitis in rats.

Biomaterials·2026
Same journal

Peptide coacervate-mediated siRNA delivery for dual PD-1/PD-L1 blockade to enhance colorectal cancer immunotherapy.

Biomaterials·2026
Same journal

A sonosensitizing hydrogel with tumour-confined stability for intrinsically targeted sonodynamic therapy.

Biomaterials·2026
Same journal

Multidimensional intestinal barrier repair strategies for alleviating inflammatory bowel disease and gut-liver axis-associated metabolic liver disease.

Biomaterials·2026
Same journal

A dual-twisted molecular strategy achieves dramatic quantum-yield enhancement in NIR-II AIEgen for high-performance bioimaging.

Biomaterials·2026
See all related articles

Controlled release polymers can deliver macromolecules for disease treatment. Macromolecule diffusion through unstirred mucus layers, crucial for drug delivery, was found to be only slightly hindered, even for large molecules like immunoglobulins.

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

  • Polymeric controlled release systems are vital for treating diseases, particularly in challenging environments like the brain and mucosal surfaces.
  • Diffusion of macromolecules through unstirred fluid layers near polymers can impede the efficacy of controlled release therapies.
  • Understanding macromolecule diffusion in biological fluids is critical for optimizing drug delivery system design.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the diffusion of fluorescently labeled macromolecules released from an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer matrix.
  • To quantify diffusion coefficients in unstirred phosphate-buffered water and human cervical mucus.
  • To assess the impact of mucus on macromolecule diffusion relevant to controlled release applications.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Utilized computer-assisted epifluorescence microscopy to observe macromolecule distribution.
  • Analyzed concentration profiles over time to determine diffusion coefficients.
  • Compared diffusion rates of fluorescein, bovine serum albumin, and human immunoglobulins (IgG, sIgA, IgM) in different media.

Main Results:

  • Diffusion coefficients in phosphate-buffered water aligned with established literature values for fluorescein, albumin, and immunoglobulins.
  • Diffusion of fluorescein, albumin, and IgG in human cervical mucus was comparable to their diffusion in water.
  • The largest molecule tested, immunoglobulin M, experienced only a threefold reduction in diffusion rate within the mucus.

Conclusions:

  • Polymeric controlled release of macromolecules into unstirred biological fluids, including mucus, is feasible.
  • Mucus presents a minimal barrier to the diffusion of essential macromolecules like albumin and immunoglobulins.
  • These findings support the potential of polymeric systems for targeted drug delivery and immunoprotection in mucosal tissues.