Synthesis of Epoxy-Coated Silica Nanoparticles for Effective Protein Conjugation

Date of Completion

Spring 4-28-2017

Thesis Advisor(s)

James Rusling

Honors Major

Chemistry

Disciplines

Nanomedicine

Abstract

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery is a recent and progressive field that is providing safer, enhanced therapeutic methods for existing drugs.1 Nanoparticle size and surface manipulation can be utilized to improve drug delivery which can potentially reduce drug doses, lower costs, and diminish side effects.1 This project aims to optimize the silica nanoparticle (SiNP) through epoxy-silanization in order to achieve effective protein conjugation. SiNPs are prepared from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) through a base-catalyzed synthesis. Nanoparticle size is controlled through epoxy-silanization by varying the concentration of 3-glycidyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPMS). GPMS-SiNPs are then analyzed through zeta potential, attenuated total reflection (ATR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS), through which optimal concentration and reaction times for epoxy-coating are determined. Optimized GPMS-coated SiNPs are conjugated with the protein horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and tested for GPMS-protein binding through chemiluminescence (CL). The optimized 50 mM, 15 minute addition GPMS-SiNP showed successful protein binding. This result opens up the application to serve as an efficient drug delivery method, as well as other applications such as bio-conjugation.

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