09/28/2012
Polymeric Vesicles for Theranostic Applications
The Science
Nanosized vesicles have potential as drug carriers or diagnostic agents because of their ability to entrap and release molecules into their core region in a controlled way. An easy and robust route was developed to fabricate uniform porphysomes consisting of porphyrin-polylactide (PPLA) conjugates that can overcome the obstacles faced with previous systems. The Bio-SANS beamline at the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory was used to characterize these new particles and identify the hollow shell structure characteristic of vesicles. These PPLA porphysomes may have potential as a new and stable platform for drug delivery and ultrasonic imaging, especially in cancer theranostics.
Principal Investigator
Chia-Yen Hsu
National Chung Hsing University
BER Program Manager
Amy Swain
U.S. Department of Energy, Biological and Environmental Research (SC-33)
Biological Systems Science Division
[email protected]
References
Hsu, C.-Y., M.-P. Nieh, and P.-S. Lai. 2012. “Facile Self-Assembly of Porphyrin-Embedded Polymeric Vesicles
for Theranostic Applications,” Chemical Communications 48, 9343–45.