During the past ten years, group have pioneered in the
development of polymeric nanospheres ranging in size from a few nanometers to a few
microns. Four major types of functional monodispersed nanospheres have been
prepared in laboratory:
1. Solid nanospheres suspended in aqueous and/or organic solvents
microencapsulated with different dye compounds and/or magnetic properties. These
nanospheres were prepared from a variety of functional polymeric materials, e.g.
polyacrolein, polyglutaraldehyde, polymethyl α-(hydroxymethyl) acrylate,
polychloromethylstyrene, cellulose and silica;
2. Uniform magnetic nanoparticles of two types: (a) Organic-inorganic hybrid particles
composed of cores from micron-sized uniform polystyrene particles and shells from
magnetite-silica nanospheres of approximately 30 nm diameter; (b) Biodegradable,
non-toxic, magnetic metal oxide (i.e. Fe3O4) nanoparticles of very narrow size
distribution in sizes ranging from approximately 20 nm up to 0.5 microns.
3. Non-magnetic and magnetic silica hollow micron-sized particles.
4. Supported nanoparticles composed of functional nanoparticles, i.e. polyacrolein,
covalently bound in a monolayer structure onto different substrates such as glass,
polystyrene and polyethylene.
Project Status
The functional groups of the particles have been used, via different activation
procedures, for covalent binding of ligands such as drugs, proteins, enzymes, antigens
and antibodies to the nanosphere surfaces. These were then used for applications
such as specific cell labeling and cell separation, diagnostics, affinity chromatography,
cell growth, specific blood filtration by hemoperfusion, heavy metal ions detoxification,
enzyme immobilization and carriers for oligonucleotide synthesis and various
biochemical reactions.
Commercial Significance
Particles having very narrow size distribution, spherical shape and high surface area,
provide a unique solution to a variety of basic and practical problems in materials
science and biotechnology. The fields described above have a huge potential market for
research and industrial applications in the fields of gene technology, cell separation,
microbiology standardization, MRI contrast agents, drug delivery systems, immobilized
enzymes, environmental and material sciences.
Desired Cooperation
Licensing and/or strategic collaboration is being sought.
