(62ao) RC Materials Based On Nanocomposite Sol-Gel Systems

Remotely controlled (RC) drug release is a growing area of research for its biomedical applications and ability to alter drug releasing therapy after implantation. Thermosensitive block copolymer sol-gel systems are promising drug delivery vehicles for RC release because of their ability to go through temperature dependent sol-gel-sol phase changes. The phase transitions can be tailored to create gelation upon injection of a polymer/drug solution into the body, trapping the drug. Through the incorporation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles that heat when exposed to an alternating magnetic field (AMF), the temperature of the system can be increased remotely to initiate the phase transition and resultant drug release. The release of a model drug, Vitamin B12, from nanocomposite poly(ethylene-oxide-b-propylene-oxide) systems upon AMF exposure, which will raise the temperature and increase drug transport, is to be demonstrated. Phase transitions for this polymer were determined to be in desirable ranges for in vivo purposes, and the nanocomposite proved to heat when exposed to an AMF. Vitamin B12 release from the polymer when placed in water baths of different temperatures was greater for samples in a near solution state than in the gel state. Current work includes studying drug release from nanocomposite polymer systems by AMF exposure.