Essay --

1) Identify synthesis methods that are used to make the nanomaterials for your application (1 separate synthesis method per team member). Briefly describe how each synthesis method works, and classify each as top-down or bottom-up. For drug delivery, numerous processes exist that incorporate nanotechnology. A very common procedure for promoting drug delivery, is through the use of nanoparticles. This allows for a controlled drug release. By using nanoparticle technology, drugs can be placed inside a vehicle which helps decrease the rate at which said drug will metabolize. Targeted drug delivery is also possible, due to specific nanoparticles releasing the drug once it reaches its destination. This reduces total drugs needed as well as the side effects, due to a more efficient transporting mechanism. Lowering the costs is another benefit as well. Anything smaller than 100 nm is considered a nanoparticle. Four common nanoparticles used are silica (SiO2), gold (Au), magnetite (Fe3O4), and quantum dots. Silica nanoparticles are very inert so they can be used with very reactive drugs. Due to the nature of the shape, size, and arrangement of these nanoparticles, they can bypass the RES (reticuloendothelial system). The drugs will then not be recognized as foreign and can thus be delivered to their target with minimal issue. Silica nanoparticles can also be mesoporous, which has pore sizes of 2-50 nm.2They can have a unique arrangement with a core shell architecture which allows a nanoparticle to have two different properties due to the different materials. Due to these pores, drug loading ability can be customized. Another trendy nanoparticle is gold. They are used due to their special photo thermal effect; one can send in light a... ...um. Nanosphere lithography is the second best because it is used when polymers cannot be accessed. Metals are made as spheres but shapes are limited by the crystal group chosen as the glass substrate material. Sol-gel has tons of potential but it can only make hydrophobic materials. Microfluidization is easily the worst because it is way too expensive for such low yield. Research is being done to optimize this. All of these drug delivery synthesis methods can be performed fairly quickly and are currently being used commercially, with various levels of popularity. Radical polymerization also has the largest range of crystal properties possibilities, being able to be hydrophilic or hydrophobic. This is very unique, especially when considering it being used as a drug vehicle. Being hydrophilic can allow hydrophobic drugs to enter the body for extended amounts of time.