Dogs that release drugs while moving

An octopus-like polymer is able to "walk" along the wall of a narrow channel while being moved by a solvent. In this way he can release the drugs stored inside him

An octopus-like polymer is able to "walk" along the wall of a narrow channel while being moved by a solvent. The new study provides a theoretical model that simulates the transport characteristics of polymers consisting of straight or branched chains in smooth channels or channels that react with the polymer. The findings of this study may help in the development of carrier dogs to release drugs in the body at a controlled rate.

"The deformability of particles distinguishes them markedly from atoms or rigid colloids," said Arash Nikoubashman, a researcher at the University of Dusseldorf in Germany. "Equilibrium experiments show that there is a major effect on the self-organization ability of these mares and we wanted to know how this characteristic is manifested when the mares are pushed by a flowing solvent."

In this study, a comparison was made between the flow of straight polymers and that of dendrimers (highly branched polymers). The findings indicate that flow through a narrow channel does not depend on the number of monomers that make up the polymer chain. In a smooth channel, the flow is also independent of shape: the straight and the branched polymer both move in the fast solvent flow towards the center of the channel. However, when patches that bind to the polymer are attached to the channel, the dendrimer "walks" along the wall and jumps from patch to patch, while the straight polymer tends to stay close to the wall and move slowly along the channel.

Possible applications of this research include understanding the movement of biological particles through nozzles, and the development of dendrimer carriers for controlled rate release. Blood vessels are systems similar to the patchy model channel with different chemical affinities.

"Currently, we are investigating the charge transfer capabilities of dendrimers," explains the lead researcher. "We loaded the dendrimer with a guest substance (such as a drug) that has a unique chemical bond with the blood vessel wall and let it move through the solvent." Once the dendrimer is anchored in the patches, it is supposed to transfer the chemical cargo to the docking site and then the carriers are washed out with the flow.

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