Fabrication of core-shell nanoparticles and nanoporous membrane for anticancer drug delivery

Abstract

This thesis presents the development of core-shell nanoparticles as delivery vehicles and SiNx nanoporous membranes as releasing devices for large size nanoparticles in anticancer drug delivery. Firstly, the temperature- and pH-sensitive amphiphilic polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid-co-cholesteryl acrylate) (P(NIPAAm-co-AA-co-CHA)) has been synthesized and employed to encapsulate anticancer drug: paclitaxel, in core-shell nanoparticles. By characterizing the paclitaxel loaded nanoparticles, including their morphology, stability, LCST, CAC, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release and cytotoxicity, it was found these temperature- and pH-sensitive nanoparticles would be a promising carrier for intracellular delivery of anticancer drugs.To solve the delivery difficulties of large size nanoparticles, a near zero residual stress SiNx layer deposited by optimized PECVD processes in high power and high frequency has been developed, and the nanoporous membrane fabricated by zero stress SiNx layers with pore size of 400 nm has been successfully achieved. This nanoporous membrane was approved to be biocompatible by cell culture experiments.