• Transdermal delivery using gold nanoparticles

The enhancement of a high molecular weight protein (Ovalbumin; OVA) penetration based on the photothermal effect of a surfactant-protein-gold nanorod complex was addressed. When the surfactant-protein-gold nanorod complex was applied to the skin in vitro and irradiated by a near infrared (NIR) light, OVA was delivered through the skin and also induced an immune response in vivo. This combination provides a new approach for trandermal delivery and skin vaccination of high molecular weight proteins/drugs.
For more details, please go to http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smll.201001394/full

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• Selective destruction of target cells using gold nanoparticles

Electron microscope image of gold nanorods (left) and gold nanospheres (right)

Gold nanoparticles have attracted considerable interest on account of their many potential and actual applications. These particles can be engineered to absorb light at a particular wavelength and can also be functionalized with an antibody or protein to target specific cells. When these two phenomena are combined, the heating which results when gold nanoparticles absorb light can be used to deliver a hyperthermal payload to adjacent biological material. Either spherical or rod-shaped can be modified to target and kill macrophage cells or parasites (Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites)

Using gold nanoparticles to kill parasite

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• Cytotoxicity of RAFT Polymers

The reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT technique) has been increasingly used to generate polymers for potential biological applications. However, the toxicity of the RAFT-polymers has received limited attention. In this study, the in vitro cytotoxicity of three different, RAFT-synthesized, water-soluble polymers was investigated using three different adherent cell lines via CellTiter-Blue cell viability and the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assays.
For more details, please go to http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/bm901129x

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• Iron oxide particles for gene delivery

Iron oxide nanoparticles (developed by Dr Cyrille Boyer and his colleagues) for gene delivery was done. In vitro transfection was performed to see the efficiency of particles for siRNA delivery. It was found that the particles would be effective for siRNA trasnfection agent and the particles shown to be non toxic to the human neuroblastoma cells that were used in this study.
For more details, please go to http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2010/JM/b914063h

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