Mesoporous silica nanoparticles with ultra high porosity

Applications

• Drug delivery
• Biosensors
• MRI/PET imaging probes
• Heterogeneous catalysis
• Adsorbent in separation process

Key Benefits & Differentiators

• Tunable properties: tailorable mesoporous structures and facile surface modifications make this novel nanoparticle highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications
• High cargo capacity: high pore size to particle size ratio allows for a variety of materials to be loaded into the pores in substantial quantities
• Controlled release of materials the nanoparticle’s empty interior is surrounded by a shell of mesopores, which enables materials to be released slowly and in a controlled manner

Technology Overview

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have received significant attention as a potential delivery system to transport drugs and other materials, as they can be synthesized to achieve large pore volumes while keeping the small particle size. However, currently employed methods to synthesize MNSs, and pore swelling strategies have seldom topped 2.0 cm3/g pore volumes. In addition, swollen or hollow structures can result in small micro- or mesopores on the shell portion of a particle, and in thin silica walls, all of which are prone to breakage and aggregation.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed ultra-porous silica nanoparticles with high surface area (~1200 m2/g) and ultra-large void volume (>3cm3/g).These novel particles are conveniently small at less than 200 nanometers in diameter, and have controllable pore size which allows for a variety of drugs or other materials to be loaded into the particles. This MSN also features a large, empty interior for the storage of compounds surrounded by a shell of mesopores that can release materials in a controlled manner. Ultra-porous MSN is a versatile platform that can be made appropriate for applications ranging from environmental remediation to biomedical sensing, retaining all the stability and surface-modification potential available in more traditional mesoporous silica nanomaterials synthesis.

Phase of Development

Desired Partnerships

• License
• Sponsored research
• Co-development

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Researchers

• Christy Haynes, PhD Professor, Department of Chemistry