AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

In my dissertation, three different types of micro- and nano-materials, including photoluminescent carbon nanodots, fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles and mesoporous silica microcapsules, are developed and studied for their use in drug delivery and bioimaging applications.First, a one-step solvent-free thermal treatment method to generate photoluminescent carbon nanodots is developed. The morphologies, chemical structures and fluorescent properties of the carbon nanodots generated from two different types of polymers (MPEG and PAA) are presented. These carbon nanodots can be used for bio-detecting and labelling. Second, a novel strategy that combines photoluminescent carbon nanodots with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles is proposed. Monodisperse iron oxide nanoparticles are synthesized and the surface of the nanoparticles is modified with carbon nanodots originated from 3 different types of polymers (PF127, PVA and PAA). The functionalizability of the photoluminescent magnetic nanoparticles is demonstrated for bio-imaging and hyperthermia therapy applications. Finally, various types of monodispserse mesoporous silica microparticles are generated by glass-capillary microfluidic devices via double emulsion templates. These silica microcapsules can be used for drug delivery.