Integrated zeta/size analyzer for characterization of core-shell colloidal particles

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The layer by layer (LbL) technique is a powerful and versatile means to assemble nanostructures onto a substrate. This process is based on the electrostatic interactions of polyelectrolytes with opposite charges to yield multilayer structures ranging in thickness from tens to hundreds of nanometers. During the past eight years, the applicant has undertaken research in LbL assembly using mainly positively charged hyaluronan (HA) and negatively charged chitosan (CH) to make the functional biointerfaces. Our application for such biointerfaces ranges from regenerative medicine (tissue engineering) to genomics and proteomics (vectors and biorecognition systems). The ability to control interfacial properties of biological structures by the mean of LbL led to the creation of exciting new avenues in our research. Our work on the LbL multilayers onto endovascular devices has led to the development of new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. Currently, the LbL assembly as a nanoshell is build up on both artificial (nanoparticles and nanoscale bilayer lipid systems) and biological (bacterial cells, platelets, red blood cells) three-dimensional (3D) templates for various medical applications. Furthermore, the ability to functionalize this LbL assembly with bioactive molecules (proteins, DNA, drugs,...) has generated considerable developments in our projects focusing on targeted therapeutic and drug delivery. For instance, we develop different strategies for DNA hybridization into multilayers. We incorporate osteogenic and angiogenic growth factors to promote the cellular uptake of these biomolecules on the template of interest and create effective protein and gene delivery systems. Pursuing our research in these exciting areas seeks to characterize the LbL assembly on the 3D templates by measuring at least two main parameters, their size and their charge at the surface since both tremendously influence their effectiveness. Funding this proposal for the purchase of an integrated size/charge analyzer with increased sensitivity and capabilities which will generate more reproducible results and time-effective analysis will have a great impact on our research and on the LbL assembly for producing new biointerfaces.