Characterization of nanoparticles using an analytical ultracentrifuge

Nanoparticles can potentially be used to transport an encapsulated drug specifically to the desired site of action in the human body without undesirable side effects. While a large number of publications deal with suitable polymer materials, techniques for encapsulating drugs and their prospective biomedical applications, physicochemical characterization is often neglected. A scientific article on this subject has now been published in the journal "Nanoscale".

Common characterization methods for such complex multicomponent systems seem unsuitable for gaining a comprehensive insight, which is why alternative and innovative techniques for the nanomedicine get even more into the focus of research. An analytical ultracentrifuge (AUC) allows for a detailed investigation of medical nanoparticles, even in complex biofluids such as human serum. Thus, it is possible to investigate the behavior of such nanoparticles near to real conditions such as human body temperature and in blood serum before in vivo experiments. The AUC also allows investigations on the selective influence of blood serum proteins on the integrity and compatibility of the nanoparticles.

You can find the complete article hereExternal link. It is also part of the "2020 Nanoscale HOT Article Collection", which you can view hereExternal link.