Methods to Tailor Protein Microspheres for Biomedical Applications

In this thesis, I have developed methods to systematically modify the core, shell, and surface of the protein microspheres. In addition, I have shown that the size of these spheres can be reduced from the micron scale to the nano scale. These modifications have thus improved the versatility and the applicability of the microspheres to a variety of applications. Modifications involving nanoparticles have resulted in the first class of optical contrast agents for optical coherence tomography (OCT). Modifications with receptor specific peptides have generated microspheres that can be targeted to tumor cells. And finally, modifications of the microspheres with nucleic acids have opened the door to new applications in gene therapy.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Jean-Jacques Toublan, Farah

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kenneth S. Suslick

• Engineering, Biomedical

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3199030

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/84188