NER: Nanoimprint fabrication of stimuli-responsive drug delivery carriers

摘要：NER：刺激反应性药物递送载体的纳米印记制造。该提案是响应纳米科学与工程计划，NSF 05-610， NER类别。本研究的目的是为组织靶向药物递送制备功能性三维纳米结构。该方法是利用自上而下的纳米制造技术，特别是步进和闪光纳米压印和热纳米压印光刻技术，结合合理的聚合物化学，开发具有精确尺寸和形状的单分散、可注射的纳米载体，可以根据特定的疾病相关信号释放药物。这一结果不仅为制造具有疾病反应特性的药物输送载体提供了新的方向，而且还将探索利用印记技术产生复杂纳米结构的基本局限性和实际能力。如果成功，这将最终导致下一代疾病特异性和高效的治疗方法，并为纳米压印光刻技术提供新的生物医学应用。该项目本质上是跨学科的，涉及一名生物医学工程师和一名机械/纳米制造工程师。这为研究生提供了一个独特而有益的教育环境。此外，这里开发的结果和概念将直接受益于一些研究生课程，并将通过将纳米尺度科学和工程与现实生活中的生物医学应用相关联，传播到本科和高中教育中。

Abstract:NER: Nanoimprint fabrication of stimuli-responsive drug delivery carriersThis proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 05-610, category NER. The objective of this research is to fabricate functional three dimensional nanostructures for tissue targeted drug delivery. The approach is to use top-down nanofabrication technology, specifically step and flash nanoimprinting and thermal nanoimprint lithography, coupled with rational polymer chemistry to develop monodisperse, injectable nanocarriers with precise size and shape that can release drug in response to specific disease-associated signals. The results could not only provide new directions in fabricating drug delivery vehicles with disease-responsive properties, but would also explore the fundamental limitations and practical capabilities of generating complex nanostructures with imprint techniques. If successful, this would eventually lead to the next generation of disease-specific and highly effective therapeutics and also provide novel biomedical applications for nanoimprint lithography. The project is inherently interdisciplinary involving a biomedical engineer and a mechanical/nano-manufacturing engineer. This provides a unique and rewarding educational environment for the graduate students involved. In addition, the results and concepts developed here would directly benefit several graduate courses and would be disseminated into undergraduate and high school education by correlating nanoscale science and engineering with real-life biomedical applications.