Construction of Nano-Assembled Microcapsules Embedded with Gold Nanoparticles for use in Novel Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract: Coronary stents have changed the way in which coronary artery diseases are managed. Although bare-metal stents can be traced back to 1994, long term efficacy of these stents has been shattered by ISR (In-Stent restenosis) and late stent thrombosis. Research on finding a solution to these issues has led to the development of DESs (Drug eluting stents). However long term effectiveness of DESs and various drug delivery systems have raised concerns. Also current DESs does not have the capability to adjust the drug dose or release kinetics that corresponds to the diseased status of the affected vessel. Through the use of a drug delivery system which employs controlled drug release, it may be possible to control the release rate of the pharmacological drugs or substances of interest, and therefore one might be able to circumvent the range of events that leads to ISR, thus preventing the need for further invasive interventions. To overcome the limitations of drug delivery systems, the administration of drugs using nanoparticle based microcapsules as carriers is being researched for their ability to facilitate a sustained, prolonged and controlled release of drugs. But still much research is needed to evaluate and fix issues relating toxicity, chemical and mechanical properties of the nanoparticles. This project combines a range of nanobiotechnological techniques to synthesise nano-components which are finally assembled together to get the microcapsules which could be used in drug delivery systems. The microcapsules were engineered keeping in mind their potential use in an ultrasound based drug delivery system.