Ali Alenezi

Project description

Controlled drug delivery and release on Implant Surface using near infrared light.

In our project, we are working on developing drug delivery technique around dental implants. The surface of implant will be modified and coated with thin layer of smart polymer loaded with medications that can be released in controlled manner. Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) is temperature responsive polymer that can show phase transition temperature close the physiological body temperature. The temperature that shows this transition is called “critical solution temperatures” (LCST). When the polymer is at room temperature (below LCST), PNIPAM is in swelling status that will permit drug to be entrapped within. Whereas, when temperature rose above LCST, PNIPAM will undergoes a phase transition, resulting in collapse of it structure and release of durg. However, to be able to generate local heat for temperature increase beyond LCST, gold nanorods well be incorporated inside the PNIPAM. Gold nanorods (GNRs) shows a unique feature as it can absorb light strongly in the near infrared region and thereafter convert it to heat. Incorporating the gold nanorods in PNIPAM polymer will permit the control of the shrinkage behavior and consequently the drug release by switching on/off the infrared light.
For our purposes, gold nanorods are required in particular design to absorb near-IR light. Near-IR light can be absorbed in a spectral range called the “water window,” that is a gap in the absorption spectrum of tissue that exists between the absorption spectra of the hemoglobin (<800 nm) and that of water (>1200 nm).
In Vitro study are planned to evaluate the cells interaction with the polymer. Animal study can follow that to observe drug release from implant surface and the bone response.

This Project will be in a form of collaboration between Chalmers and Malmo Universities.