Research Explorer

Project

Water vapor nano bubbles as a new concept for the delivery of nanoparticles in the cytoplasm of target cells for the inactivation of biofilms
Code
3G016613
Duration
01 January 2013 → 31 December 2018
Funding
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Microbiology
    • Systems biology
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Laboratory medicine
    • Medical imaging and therapy
    • Microbiology
    • Laboratory medicine
    • Medical imaging and therapy
    • Other paramedical sciences
    • Biomarker discovery and evaluation
    • Drug discovery and development
    • Medicinal products
    • Pharmaceutics
    • Pharmacognosy and phytochemistry
    • Pharmacology
    • Pharmacotherapy
    • Toxicology and toxinology
    • Other pharmaceutical sciences
    • Laboratory medicine
    • Medical imaging and therapy
    • Microbiology
  • Engineering and technology
    • Biological system engineering
    • Biomaterials engineering
    • Biomechanical engineering
    • Medical biotechnology
    • Other (bio)medical engineering
Keywords
phototherapy biophotonics gold nanoparticles
 
Project description

When a nanosecond laser pulse is delivered to gold nanoparticles, water vapour nanobubbles can emerge around the particles in tissue. Upon expansion, the bubbles violently collapse causing mechanical damage to neighboring structures. This effect can be used to controllably damage cellular membranes so as to enable cytosolic delivery of nanoparticles and macromolecules, and for the eradication of bacterial biofilms.