Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery provides theoretical and practical skills concerning selected synthetic processes and procedures, as well as the most advanced characterization techniques of inorganic and organic nanomaterials for applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields
teacher profile teaching materials
Fundamentals of nanomedicine and drug delivery
Definition and classification of nanomaterials. Nanoscale effects and surface-area-to-volume ratio. Relationships among composition, size, shape, surface charge, porosity, colloidal stability and biological behaviour. Advantages and limitations of nanostructured systems compared with conventional drug administration.
Main classes of inorganic nanomaterials
Metal nanoparticles, with particular reference to gold, silver and platinum. Metal-oxide nanoparticles, including magnetite and maghemite, zinc oxide and cerium oxide. Magnetic nanoparticles and their use in magnetic targeting, hyperthermia and magnetic resonance imaging. Mesoporous silica and calcium-based materials, including calcium phosphates and hydroxyapatite. Quantum dots and semiconductor nanomaterials. Introduction to carbon-based nanomaterials and organic–inorganic hybrid systems.
Main preparation methods: nucleation and growth, colloidal synthesis, precipitation and coprecipitation, sol-gel processes, hydrothermal synthesis and green-synthesis approaches. Control of nanoparticle size, shape and dispersion.
Drug loading and release
Physical adsorption, electrostatic interactions, coordination, pore loading and covalent conjugation. Degradable or biologically responsive linkers. Loading efficiency and loading capacity. Drug-release mechanisms based on diffusion, desorption, dissolution or carrier degradation. Controlled and stimuli-responsive release activated by pH, redox conditions, enzymes, light, heat or magnetic fields.
Surface functionalization and targeting
Covalent and non-covalent functionalization. Silanization, thiol–gold interactions and anchoring through phosphonate or catechol groups on metal-oxide surfaces. Polymeric coatings and PEGylation. Conjugation with antibodies, peptides, proteins, aptamers, nucleic acids and carbohydrates.
Passive and active targeting. Bio–nano interactions, protein adsorption and protein-corona formation. Immune recognition and clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system. Overcoming biological barriers, cellular internalization, intracellular trafficking and endosomal escape. Targeting of cellular organelles and the nucleus using cell-penetrating peptides, nuclear-localization sequences and specific ligands.
Characterization techniques
TEM, SEM and AFM for morphology, size and aggregation.
Dynamic Light Scattering, Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, polydispersity index and zeta potential for hydrodynamic size and colloidal stability.
X-ray diffraction for crystal structure and phase composition.
UV-Vis, fluorescence, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for optical properties, composition and molecular interactions.
XPS for surface composition, chemical state and assessment of surface functionalization.
Thermogravimetric analysis for evaluating coatings and surface-bound organic components.
BET surface-area and porosity analysis for mesoporous materials.
ICP-MS or ICP-OES for elemental composition, nanoparticle concentration, dissolution and ion release.
Spectroscopic and chromatographic methods for determining loading efficiency and drug-release profiles.
Biological interactions and applications
Effects of physicochemical properties on biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, cellular uptake and toxicity. Applications in oncology, gene therapy, infection treatment, crossing of the blood–brain barrier, bioimaging and theranostics. Plasmonic nanoparticles for photothermal therapy and magnetic nanoparticles for imaging and guided drug delivery.
Biocompatibility, nanotoxicology, oxidative stress, inflammation, accumulation and long-term fate. Safe-by-design principles. Reproducibility, scalability, standardization, quality control and the main challenges associated with clinical translation and regulatory approval.
Programme
The module introduces the chemical, physical and biological principles underlying the design of inorganic nanomaterials for drug delivery.Fundamentals of nanomedicine and drug delivery
Definition and classification of nanomaterials. Nanoscale effects and surface-area-to-volume ratio. Relationships among composition, size, shape, surface charge, porosity, colloidal stability and biological behaviour. Advantages and limitations of nanostructured systems compared with conventional drug administration.
Main classes of inorganic nanomaterials
Metal nanoparticles, with particular reference to gold, silver and platinum. Metal-oxide nanoparticles, including magnetite and maghemite, zinc oxide and cerium oxide. Magnetic nanoparticles and their use in magnetic targeting, hyperthermia and magnetic resonance imaging. Mesoporous silica and calcium-based materials, including calcium phosphates and hydroxyapatite. Quantum dots and semiconductor nanomaterials. Introduction to carbon-based nanomaterials and organic–inorganic hybrid systems.
Main preparation methods: nucleation and growth, colloidal synthesis, precipitation and coprecipitation, sol-gel processes, hydrothermal synthesis and green-synthesis approaches. Control of nanoparticle size, shape and dispersion.
Drug loading and release
Physical adsorption, electrostatic interactions, coordination, pore loading and covalent conjugation. Degradable or biologically responsive linkers. Loading efficiency and loading capacity. Drug-release mechanisms based on diffusion, desorption, dissolution or carrier degradation. Controlled and stimuli-responsive release activated by pH, redox conditions, enzymes, light, heat or magnetic fields.
Surface functionalization and targeting
Covalent and non-covalent functionalization. Silanization, thiol–gold interactions and anchoring through phosphonate or catechol groups on metal-oxide surfaces. Polymeric coatings and PEGylation. Conjugation with antibodies, peptides, proteins, aptamers, nucleic acids and carbohydrates.
Passive and active targeting. Bio–nano interactions, protein adsorption and protein-corona formation. Immune recognition and clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system. Overcoming biological barriers, cellular internalization, intracellular trafficking and endosomal escape. Targeting of cellular organelles and the nucleus using cell-penetrating peptides, nuclear-localization sequences and specific ligands.
Characterization techniques
TEM, SEM and AFM for morphology, size and aggregation.
Dynamic Light Scattering, Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, polydispersity index and zeta potential for hydrodynamic size and colloidal stability.
X-ray diffraction for crystal structure and phase composition.
UV-Vis, fluorescence, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for optical properties, composition and molecular interactions.
XPS for surface composition, chemical state and assessment of surface functionalization.
Thermogravimetric analysis for evaluating coatings and surface-bound organic components.
BET surface-area and porosity analysis for mesoporous materials.
ICP-MS or ICP-OES for elemental composition, nanoparticle concentration, dissolution and ion release.
Spectroscopic and chromatographic methods for determining loading efficiency and drug-release profiles.
Biological interactions and applications
Effects of physicochemical properties on biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, cellular uptake and toxicity. Applications in oncology, gene therapy, infection treatment, crossing of the blood–brain barrier, bioimaging and theranostics. Plasmonic nanoparticles for photothermal therapy and magnetic nanoparticles for imaging and guided drug delivery.
Biocompatibility, nanotoxicology, oxidative stress, inflammation, accumulation and long-term fate. Safe-by-design principles. Reproducibility, scalability, standardization, quality control and the main challenges associated with clinical translation and regulatory approval.
Core Documentation
No compulsory textbook is required. Teaching materials will include lecture notes, presentations and scientific articles provided or recommended by the lecturer during the course. The proposed literature will include up-to-date review articles and case studies concerning the synthesis, functionalization, characterization and biomedical applications of inorganic nanomaterials.Attendance
Attendance is compulsory. Students must attend at least 70% of the scheduled teaching activities, including any practical exercises and laboratory experiences, in order to take the examination.Type of evaluation
Learning outcomes will be assessed through an individual oral examination. The examination will cover at least three different areas of the syllabus and may include the discussion of experimental data, graphs, spectra or microscopy images related to the characterization of a nanosystem. Assessment will consider: knowledge of the course content; scientific accuracy and appropriate terminology; ability to relate composition, structure, properties and function; ability to select and critically discuss characterization techniques; independent judgement in designing a drug-delivery system; ability to consider biocompatibility, safety and clinical-translation issues. A passing grade requires knowledge of the fundamental concepts and the ability to describe at least one inorganic nanomaterial-based drug-delivery system. The highest grades will be awarded to students who can critically integrate chemical, physical, biological and application-related aspects.