Compact shock wave generating device for drug delivery

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News reported that "the burgeoning markets that surround biopharmaceuticals, RNA interference screening, and stem cell research are limited by the lack of a silver bullet for successful gene transfer. Because stable transfection is hard to achieve in primary cell lines, this application continues to be an important untapped niche in the transfection market." Inventors developed a microdevice creating shock waves from the reaction of nanoenergetic materials of fuel and oxidizer in nanoscale. The shock waves then permeabilize target cells allowing delivery of genetic material into the cells. The characteristics of the shock wave that can be controlled include pulse intensity, and pulse duration. The tunability of the shock waves allows the device to be adapted for use in a wide range of applications. DNA and nanoparticle delivery have been demonstrated. As compared to existing cell transfection products, this device achieves a significantly greater transfection success rate, significantly greater cell survival rate, and should cost less than most, if not all other methods. The invention was compared with commercially available chemical-based transfections (SiPort NeoFx, SiPort Amine, Lipofectamine 2000, Lipofectamine LTX, Transit LT1), and electroporation. The prototype of the invention produced transfection and survivability rates in excess of 99% while none of the existing transfection methods resulted in a rate greater than 10%, and the survivability of those transfected cells ranged from 0% to 80%. This device has the potential to revolutionize cell transfection, as the shock waves are particularly good at making the cell membranes porous, while at the same time the shock waves are gentle and do not cause catastrophic damage during the transfection, so cells survive. Potential Areas of Applications: * Cell Transfection * Shockwave drug delivery for killing cancer cells * Precision drug delivery of imaging particles * Fragmentation of kidney stones * Destruction of plaques Patent Status: Prototype tested and patent application 12/253,706 published Inventor(s): Dr. Shubhra Gangopadhyay, Ph.D.; Dr. Steven Apperson, Ph.D.; Dr. Luis Polo-Parada, Ph.D.; Dr. Keshab Gangopadhyay, Ph.D.; Dr. Andrey Bezmelnitsyn, Ph.D. Contact Info: Dr. Wayne McDaniel, Ph.D. ; [email protected] ; 573-884-330

Design and development of nanoenergetic materials with tunable combustion characteristics [abstract]

In recent years, nanoengineered thermites with tunable and tailored characteristics have attracted a great deal of attention owing to their enormous potential as excellent reactive materials, green primers, and structural energetic materials etc. Nanothermites are typically composed of metal oxide (oxidizer) and metal (fuel) nanoparticles. A variety of nanostructured oxidizers such as Fe2O3, CuO, Bi2O3 and MoO3 etc have been prepared in our laboratory. Various morphologies of oxidizers include nanorods, nanoparticles, and mesoporous structures exhibiting high surface area. Surfactant templating method has been developed for the synthesis of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) nanoparticles with a size distribution of 10-100nm. The physical and the chemical properties such as morphology, surface area, purity, composition, crystal structure of these metal oxide nanostructures have been determined by a host of characterization tools. Among the nanothermites, CuO nanorods/Al nanoparticles exhibit the best combustion performance measured in terms of combustion wave speed of 2600 100 m/s and reactivity of 11 1 MPa/msec. Nanothermites based on CuO nanorods/Al nanoparticles were then modified by mixing with polymers such as nitrocellulose (NC) and/or explosives such as (NH4NO3) nanoparticles, RDX (micron and nano size) and CL20 and the reaction rates of these nanocomposites were determined. Among the polymers, nitrocellulose coating of nanothermites is very interesting. Both the NC and the Teflon coated CuO/Al based nanothermite systems exhibit the ability to generate shock waves during their fast combustion. The NC coating has shown tremendous potential to reduce the high sensitivity of nanothermites to electrostatic discharge (ESD), friction and impact. Experimentally measured combustion characteristics are found to correlate very well with the physical and chemical characteristics of metal oxide nanostructures. The developed technology in our lab demonstrates the potential to tune and tailor the combustion characteristics of nanothermites to the desired level by proper choice and combination of fuel and oxidizer materials, their dimensions, and the process of self-assembly with reduced sensitivity. Potential Areas of Applications: * Microthrusters; * Propellants; * Propellant Initiators; * Suitable Replacements for Lead and Sulfur based Primers; * Shockwave drug delivery system

Shock Wave Based Cell Transfection and Fluorescent Organosilicate Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery [abstract]

Nanoscience Poster SessionNanotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that has applications in life sciences, alternative energy, national defense, and electronics. In the field of medicine, nanotechnology may enable intelligent drug delivery using multifunctional nanoparticles. Here, we show two technologies that are envisioned to work in tandem to enable targeted detection and treatment. First, a shock wave generator used for cell transfection and drug/particle delivery is presented. Then, fluorescent dye/drug encapsulated organosilicate nanoparticles (OSNP) with functionalized surfaces for targeted delivery are described. The shock wave generator has been successfully used to deliver various molecules and nanoparticle to inside of the cells with very high efficiency and low cell damage. These include dextran (77 kDa), naked plasmid, and dye-doped organosilicate nanoparticles into several types of cells lines including T47-D, HL-60, and MCF-7, and also into tissues including entire chicken heart (at developmental stage 20-30) and chicken spinal cord. Dye doped organosilicate nanoparticle surfaces conjugated to antibodies have been successfully used in immunofluorescence assays. Close examination of the nanostructure of these particles reveal its unique nanoporous structure. These nanoparticles are currently under investigation for drug encapsulation and sustained release. The implication of these technologies is that the OSNP can be used as targeted drug carriers, and the shock wave generator can be used to deliver the OSNP into cells to which the particles attach. The research on shock wave micro-transfector system has been funded by the National Science Foundation Grant Opportunities for Academic Liason with Industries program

Multi-mode nanothermite thrusters with tunable impulse [abstract]

Microthrusters have applications in projectile guidance systems, and micro-nano-satellite control. Thrusters are an integral part of a guidance system that includes orientation and trajectory sensors and target recognition components. The thrusters provide the actuation force to move the projectile. Nanothermite composites containing metallic fuel and inorganic oxidizer have unique combustion properties that make them potentially useful for microthruster applications. The nanothermite formulation can be tuned to achieve specific impulse characteristics. Depending on the application of the thruster, nanothermite formulation and motor design can be chosen to meet the application requirements. If properly configured, the reaction can have a velocity of 1000m/s. The efficiency of the thrusters is not drastically affected by the duration of reaction. Potential Areas of Applications: * Projectile guidance * Micro/Nano Satellite * Micro-Robot Actuatio

Electric arc production of nanoparticles for energetic materials [abstract]

Abstract only availableThermites are a class of energetic material (similar to explosives) which consists of a fuel and oxidizer which react chemically to release energy. These materials are of interest because they can contain over 2.5 times more energy than TNT and they can be made from relatively benign components. The rate at which these materials react depends on the size of the fuel and oxidizer particles. Traditionally prepared thermites have relatively large particle sizes and therefore tend to react slowly. We are producing a new type of thermite called super-thermite which uses very small particles known as nanoparticles. These small particles of fuel and oxidizer react much more quickly than traditionally prepared thermites. Using this method we can prepare super-thermites which burn at over 2,000 meters/second. These properties make super-thermite an ideal replacement for several toxic lead containing energetic materials. However, super-thermite materials are currently too expensive for most applications. We are researching several new methods of preparing nanoparticles for super-thermite which will reduce their cost. One method we are using is called plasma arc-discharge, and actually very similar to an arc welding process. In arc welding electricity is used to form plasma arc. The heat from the arc melts the metals and fuses them together. In our process we continue to heat the material until it evaporates and forms a vapor. When the vapor cools it condenses forming nanoparticles. This process has been used previously to prepare nanoparticles of aluminum, silicon, and copper oxide. In the near future we will extend this method to other materials as well. The benefit of this method is nanoparticles can be prepared from relatively affordable bulk materials. Using this method we hope reduce the cost of preparing super-thermite from over $20.00/gram to less than$0.25 per gramCollege of Engineering Undergraduate Research Optio