Drug delivery

MIT professor Paula Hammond (right) and Bryan Hsu PhD' 14 have developed a nanoscale film that can be used to deliver medication, either directly through injections, or by coating implantable medical devices.

Advanced thin-film technique could deliver long-lasting medication

Nanoscale, biodegradable drug-delivery method could provide a year or more of steady doses.

August 4, 2014

MIT engineers created simulations of how a gold nanoparticle coated with special molecules can penetrate a membrane. At left, the particle (top) makes contact with the membrane. At right, it has fused to the membrane.

More than glitter

Scientists explain how gold nanoparticles easily penetrate cells, making them useful for delivering drugs.

July 21, 2014

The new MIT nanoparticles consist of polymer chains (blue) and three different drug molecules — doxorubicin is red, the small green particles are camptothecin, and the larger green core contains cisplatin.

Targeting cancer with a triple threat

MIT chemists design nanoparticles that can deliver three cancer drugs at a time.

April 15, 2014

Illustration of a human head and neck with the esophagus highlighted

Pills of the future: nanoparticles

Researchers design drug-carrying nanoparticles that can be taken orally

November 27, 2013

Researchers at MIT and the University of North Carolina created these coated nanoparticles in many shapes and sizes.

Nanoparticles, made to order — inside and out

New research enables high-speed customization of novel nanoparticles for drug delivery and other uses.

July 2, 2013

Lipid nanoparticles (carrying siRNA) are shown as they are transported inside cells using endocytic vesicles.

Enhancing RNA interference

Helping RNA escape from cells’ recycling process could make it easier to shut off disease-causing genes.

June 23, 2013

Human breast cancer cells (purple) are targeted by nanoparticles (green) developed by MIT professor Paula Hammond. The particles bind to receptors overexpressed by cancer cells.

Practicing medicine at the nanoscale

New approaches to drug delivery offer hope for new, more targeted treatments.

March 11, 2013

When the new shear thinning hydrogel (top) is heated to body temperature, polymer chains join together to form a reinforcing network that improves the gel’s stability (bottom).

New injectable gels toughen up after entering the body

These more durable gels could find applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering.

November 16, 2012

A high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscope image taken at Oak Ridge National Laboratory showing a large hole in the graphene (black region in the center). The image is 32 nm by 32 nm, hence the hole is about 10 nm in diameter. The white on the surface of the graphene is contamination, which is a recurring problem for anyone imaging graphene using this technique.

Tiny pores in graphene could give rise to membranes

New membranes may filter water or separate biological samples.

October 23, 2012

Ultrasound waves of two different frequencies generate tiny bubbles of water on the skin’s surface. When these bubbles pop, the skin’s surface is lightly worn away, allowing drugs to pass through the skin more easily.

Getting (drugs) under your skin

Using ultrasound waves, researchers boost skin’s permeability to drugs.

September 14, 2012

This illustration shows how a molten fiber, because of a phenomenon known as Rayleigh instability, naturally breaks up into spherical droplets. Researchers from MIT and UCF have figured out how to use this natural tendency as a way to make large quantities of perfectly uniform particles, which can have quite complex structures.

Dripping faucets inspire new way of creating structured particles

Researchers find new method for making spherical particles, from nanoscale to pinhead-sized — including complex beach-ball-like shapes.

July 18, 2012

Researchers successfully used this nanoparticle, made from several strands of DNA and RNA, to turn off a gene in tumor cells.

Researchers achieve RNA interference, in a lighter package

Pared-down nucleic acid nanoparticle poses less risk of side effects, offers better targeting.

June 4, 2012

MIT-engineered device injects drug without needles, delivering a high-velocity jet of liquid that breaches the skin at the speed of sound.

Device may inject a variety of drugs without using needles

Jet-injected drugs could improve patient compliance, reduce accidental needle sticks.

May 24, 2012

Nanoparticles, in green, targeting bacteria, shown in red.

Target: Drug-resistant bacteria

Engineers design nanoparticles that deliver high doses of antibiotics directly to bacteria.

May 4, 2012

New technique predictably generates complex, wavy shapes

May help improve drug delivery and explain natural patterns from brain folds to bell peppers.

May 3, 2012

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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