(163s) Self-Assembly in the Formation of Mesoporous Silica Aerosolized Particles Containing Fluorescent Polymers and Drugs for Sensor and Controlled Release Applications

We describe a novel biocatalytic route to encapsulate fluorescent polymer into mesoporous silica particles. Fluorescent poly (2-naphthol), synthesized by oxidative enzyme-catalyzed polymerization in cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), is encapsulated into silica particles by an aerosol-assisted process. The use of templating cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) leads to particles with hexagonally ordered mesostructure. Fluorescent mesoporous particles are obtained after removal of CTAB template by water extraction. Through similar templating using phosphatidylcholine we are able to encapsulate high levels of a water soluble drug propranolol into such mesoporous nanoscale particles. It is thereby possible to incorporate multiple functionalities into single particles. Such drug loaded fluorescent materials are useful in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, cell imaging and sensing.