Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Gyroid Nickel Nanostructures from Diblock Copolymer Supramolecules
Published on: April 28, 2014
Mechanistic insight into the interaction of gastrointestinal mucus with oral diblock copolymers synthesized via ATRP
Jiao Liu1, Jie Cao1, Jianhua Cao2
1Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Introduction:
Nanoparticles are increasingly used as drug carriers for oral administration. The delivery of drug molecules is largely dependent on the interaction of nanocarriers and gastrointestinal (GI) mucus, a critical barrier that regulates drug absorption. It is therefore important to understand the effects of physical and chemical properties of nanocarriers on the interaction with GI mucus. Unfortunately, most of the nanoparticles are unable to be prepared with satisfactory structural monodispersity to comprehensively investigate the interaction. With controlled size, shape, and surface chemistry, copolymers are ideal candidates for such purpose.
Materials And Methods:
We synthesized a series of diblock copolymers via the atom transfer radical polymerization method and investigated the GI mucus permeability in vitro and in vivo.
Results:
Our results indicated that uncharged and hydrophobic copolymers exhibited enhanced GI absorption.
Conclusion:
These results provide insights into developing optimal nanocarriers for oral administration.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers
Anatomy of the Gastrointestinal System
Here's a detailed walkthrough of this complex system:
Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders
Histology of the Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract
The mucosa is sometimes called a mucous membrane due to its mucus-secreting features. This membrane is composed of epithelium, which directly interacts with ingested substances, and the lamina propria, a layer...
Mechanistic Models: Overview of Compartment Models

