Biopolymer degradation for controlled drug-release

Contacts:

Stephan Keller, DTU Nanotech, 4525-5846 (stephan.keller@nanotech.dtu.dk)

Illustration of the new concept for controlled drug-release.

In the Nanoprobes group we are developing of a new concept for controlled drug-release (see figure). A small polymer container is filled with a drug and closed by a thin lid. The lid is covered with a thin biopolymer film. This coating is degraded chemically or by enzymes which results in the release of the drug into the body.

The goal of this project is the characterization of the degradation of a specific biopolymer. Different methods for coating of flat substrates with biopolymer will be evaluated. The degradation rate of the polymer as a function of temperature and pH-value is measured. After the identification of ideal degradation conditions, the actual polymer container will be covered with the biopolymer film and the sensor concept is tested in an existing measurement setup. The project is mostly experimental and focused on laboratory work with a new polymer. Part of the sample preparation and characterization is done in the cleanroom at Danchip.