What is Nanomedicine?

 Nanomedicine is the application of nanotechnology in medicine. Nanomedicines will have a significant impact on the future of medicine. Currently, researchers from across disciplines are working together to develop nanomaterial-based delivery systems for drugs, gene therapies, and contrast agents. These nanomedicines aim to diagnose, treat, and monitor human disease with improved efficacy and greater specificity. We are developing organic molecules that respond to light by changing their structure and properties.

These light-driven molecular switches (i.e., photoswitches) are integrated with nanosized lipid vesicles to form photoresponsive self-assembled structures. These biocompatible self-assemblies will have potential application in nanomedicine as ‘on-demand’ drug delivery systems. A delivery system with light-triggered release provides a high level of spatial and temporal control. As a result, a higher local concentration of therapeutics can be dispensed, reducing the overall injected dose and systemic toxicity. Our most recent developments regarding the functionality of these photoresponsive lipidic delivery systems will be presented.

• College Avenue Campus CB 112
• Presenter: Dr. Scott Murphy