New Strategies for Controlled Release of LiposomesYan Zhao, Iowa State University, DMR 1005515

Pore-forming agents are promising for drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, and the single-molecule detection of RNAs and DNAs. We recently prepared pore-forming macrocycles with highly unusual properties. Large hydrophilic molecules normally have difficulty moving across the membrane. A tetrameric macrocycle, however, can transport a longer sugar (maltotriose) faster than a shorter one (glucose).

We also developed a facile method to prepare multivalent water-soluble nanoparticles from “clickable” surfactants. The nanoparticles may be cleaved under biologically relevant conditions and release the surfactants rapidly.

Water-templated nanopores(J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 141; Org. Biomol. Chem. 2012, 10, 5077;

Langmuir 2012, 28, 8165)

Controlled release of surfactants(Langmuir 2012, 10, 5077)

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Most Ph.D. students in chemistry go to industry after graduation but receive little exposure to the patent literature in the graduate school. With my industrial experience, I included many examples of industrial research in graduate teaching. During such training, the students were asked to identify innovative applications of physical organic chemistry in patents.

In addition, we have hosted campers from the Science Camp of the Science Center of Iowa. We have performed chemistry demos and introduced our biomimetic research to them to help them understand what real chemists do in their everyday work.

New Strategies for Controlled Release of LiposomesYan Zhao, Iowa State University, DMR 1005515