In vitro and in vivo investigation of thermosensitive chitosan hydrogels containing silica nanoparticles for vaccine delivery.

In this work silica nanoparticles (SNP) containing the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) were incorporated into a thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel, and the resulting formulation investigated for its potential to act as a particulate sustained release vaccine delivery system. OVA-loaded SNP and chitosan hydrogels containing OVA-loaded SNP were prepared and characterised in vitro, and examined for their ability to elicit OVA-specific immune responses in vivo. Optimised SNP were found to be approximately 300nm in size with a moderate level of heterogeneity, a highly negative zeta potential, and an entrapment efficiency of approximately 7%.

Electrostatic self-assembly of PEG copolymers onto porous silica nanoparticles.

A critical requirement toward the clinical use of nanocarriers in drug delivery applications is the development of optimal biointerfacial engineering procedures designed to resist biologically nonspecific adsorption events. Minimization of opsonization increases blood residence time and improves the ability to target solid tumors. We report the electrostatic self-assembly of polyethyleneimine-polyethylene glycol (PEI-PEG) copolymers onto porous silica nanoparticles.

Quantum dot and silica nanoparticle doped polymer optical fibers.

A novel and highly versatile doping method has been developed to allow active dopants, including materials incompatible with the polymer matrix, to be incorporated into microstructured polymer optical fibers through the use of nanoparticles. The incorporation of quantum dots and silica nanoparticles containing Rhodamine isothiocyanate is demonstrated.

Formation of silica nanoparticles in microemulsions.

Silica nanoparticles for controlled release applications have been produced by the reaction of tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS) inside the water droplets of a water-in-oil microemulsion, under both acidic (pH 1.05) and basic (pH 10.85) conditions.

Quantification of the contribution of surface outgrowth to biocatalysis in sol-gels: oxytetracycline production by Streptomyces rimosus.

A technique was developed for differentiating the activity of microbes solely within sol gels by using the contribution of biomass outgrowth. Streptomyces rimosus was immobilised in colloidal silica gels and biomass growth, oxytetracycline synthesis, pH and carbohydrate consumption were compared for UV surface-sterilised gels, untreated gels, and liquid cultures. Absolute and biomass specific oxytetracycline yields were higher for non-sterile gels than for liquid culture.

Vibrational Spectra and Molecular Association of Titanium Tetraisopropoxide.

The Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) and polarized FT-Raman spectra of titanium tetraisopropoxide (tetraisopropoxytitanium, TPT), in pure and diluted forms, and of 2-propanol have been investigated in conjunction with previous assignments for related compounds to obtain a comprehensive assignment of the vibrational spectra. Evidence was obtained for the presence of both monomeric and associated species of TPT. The latter are formed by coordination expansion through bridging isopropoxy ligands.