Abstract
Nanostructured, inorganic microspheres have many industrial applications, including catalysis, electronics, and particularly drug delivery, with several advantages over their organic counterparts. However, many current production methods require high energy input, use of harmful chemicals, and extensive processing. Here, the self-assembly of calcium pyrophosphate into nanofibre microspheres is reported. This process takes place at ambient temperature, with no energy input, and only salt water as a by-product. The formation of these materials is examined, as is the formation of nanotubes when the system is agitated, from initial precipitate to crystallisation. A mechanism of formation is proposed, whereby the nanofibre intermediates are formed as the system moves from kinetically favoured spheres to thermodynamically stable plates, with a corresponding increase in aspect ratio. The functionality of the nanofibre microspheres as targeted enteric drug delivery vehicles is then demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, showing that the microspheres can pass through the stomach while protecting the activity of a model protein, then release their payload in intestinal conditions.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 213086 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Biomaterials advances |
Volume | 140 |
Early online date | 17 Aug 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Keywords
- Calcium Pyrophosphate
- Microspheres
- Nanostructures
- Nanotubes/chemistry
- Proteins