Leland Stanford Junior University

Zhuang Liu

Hongjie Dai

Paul A Wender

Xiaoming Sun

Nadine Wong Shi Kam

Xiaolin Li

Disclosed are nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes or other graphitic sheet materials having extended aromatic surfaces, which are used to deliver active agents such as drugs, labels or dyes (termed for convenience a 'drug') to the interior of cells. The nanoparticles are functionalized by a hydrophilic polymer or adsorption of an amphiphilic molecule to render them stable in suspension. The drug is therefore capable of release in the cell exterior. The drug is more rapidly released at lower pH, as found e.g., in tumor cells. The drug may also be linked to a branched chain hydrophilic polymer, so that each polymer molecule carries more than one drug bound by a cleavable linker.

Supramolecular functionalization of graphitic nanoparticles for drug delivery

Methods and materials for delivering biologically active molecules to cells in vitro or in vivo are provided. The methods and materials use carbon nanotubes or other hydrophobic particles, tubes and wires, functionalized with a linking group that is covalently bound to the nanotubes, or, alternatively, to the biologically active molecule, such as a protein. The biologically active molecule is preferably released from the nanotube when the complex has been taken up in an endosome.

Growing community of inventors

Stanford, CA, United States of America

Zhuang Liu