Length-Controlled Nanofiber Micelleplexes as Efficient Nucleic Acid Delivery Vehicles
Nucleic acid (NA) therapeutics have shown great promise for treating diseases like COVID-19 and cancer, however the challenge of delivering them to target locations within the body has limited their applications. By tailoring nanomaterial design, precision nanomedicine offers a potential solution to this problem.
Using crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA), we create precision polymer nanofibers termed 'nanofiber micelleplexes' for effective DNA plasmid delivery. Comparison to nanosphere micelleplexes enables us to highlight the role nanoparticle shape plays in NA delivery. Key transfection parameters are explored, revealing optimal uses for these delivery vehicles. The presentation also covers Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and zeta potential techniques, emphasizing their utility in assessing particle size, stability, and nucleic acid complexation.
Natural Surfactant for aqueous phase exfoliation of defect-free graphene at scale
Converting large natural graphite flakes into thin, defect-free graphene at high yield is challenging. Aqueous graphene dispersions are useful for applications like printed electronics and polymer composites, but their stability in water is limited. We address this using the natural surfactant Sapindus mukorossi (SM), known for its medicinal benefits, to exfoliate graphene nanosheets in water. This method produces defect-free, micrometer-sized graphene with an 85% yield, confirmed by electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and XPS.
Natural graphite is ultrasonicated in a water/surfactant mixture for 17 hours across 10 cycles. The resulting graphene shows a high yield with an average Raman ID/IG value of 0.17 ± 0.04. This biodegradable approach maximizes output while minimizing chemical waste. The few-layered graphene is incorporated into low-density polyurethane foam for strain sensor and oil-water separation applications, demonstrating the potential of natural surfactants in producing thin materials using industrially viable techniques.
Speakers
- Steven Street - Research Fellow in Polymer Chemistry, University of Birmingham
- Abimannan Sethurajaperumal - Research scholar in the Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology
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Who should attend?
Length-Controlled Nanofiber Micelleplexes as Efficient Nucleic Acid Delivery Vehicles
- Anyone interested in or working on nucleic acid delivery.
- Scientists and researchers interested in nanomedicine.
- Anyone seeking to understand how to use DLS and Zeta potential to probe the interactions of polyelectrolytes and charged nanoparticles.
Natural Surfactant for aqueous phase exfoliation of defect-free graphene at scale
- Graphene researchers seeking yield optimization and surfactant solutions.
- Anyone interested in nanotech, materials science, and surface chemistry professionals interested in eco-friendly graphene production.
- Anyone seeking to understand how to use graphene in applications like electronics and sensors, looking for production advancements.
What will you learn?
Length-Controlled Nanofiber Micelleplexes as Efficient Nucleic Acid Delivery Vehicles
- Learn how to make precision 1D polymer nanofibers via crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA).
- Learn how to complex DNA to polymer micelles, forming micelleplexes.
- Discover how particle size and shape affects DNA delivery into cells.
- Discover how DLS and Zeta potential were instrumental in deconvoluting the complexities of micelleplex formation.
- Understand why controlling nanoparticle size and shape is important for nucleic acid delivery.
Natural Surfactant for aqueous phase exfoliation of defect-free graphene at scale
- Recognized challenges in converting natural graphite into defect-free graphene at high yield.
- Understood the benefits and limitations of aqueous graphene dispersions for technological applications.
- Explored how surfactants prevent restacking of graphene nanosheets.
- Learned how to assess surfactant limitations in producing high-quality graphene.
- Learned about the potential of natural surfactants for stabilizing graphene and reducing chemical waste.