Biophysical characterization of hydrogel-core, lipid-shell nanoparticles (nanolipogels) for HIV chemoprophylaxis

Nanoparticles are emerging as versatile vehicles for drug delivery, providing targeting, protection, and controlled-release capabilities to encapsulated cargo. Polymeric nanoparticles made from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) are biodegradable, exhibit tunable drug release, and have encapsulated a wide variety of biological agents. However, PLGA nanoparticles are relatively inefficient at encapsulating small-molecule hydrophilic drugs. Liposomes encapsulate greater amounts of hydrophilic agents and demonstrate good cellular affinity; however, they lack controlled-release functionality. Hydrogel-core lipid-shell nanoparticles, or nanolipogels, combine the controlled-release capability of polymeric nanocarriers with the hydrophilic and cellular affinity of liposomes into a single drug delivery vehicle. This study establishes a facile, reproducible synthetic protocol for nanolipogels and evaluates hydrogel swelling as a mechanism for release of the small hydrophilic antiretroviral azidothymidine from nanolipogels.

Author dc:creator

• Mahadevan, Reena

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Woodrow, Kim A

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the individual authors.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1773/24178

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.lib.washington.edu:1773/24178