REU/RET Projects

Ross Briggs
University: University of Rochester
Mentor in UCF: Dr. Sudipta Seal – AMPAC, and Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering

Nanoceria Impregnated Nanoporous Silica Tablets for Control Release for Potential Biohost

Nanoparticles are currently attracting a considerable research attention due to their unique physical and chemical properties and high surface area to volume ratio. New materials are being developed along with new synthesis methods. The present study is intended to develop ceria nanoparticles for potential bioapplications in a porous silica gel carrier for drug delivery or tissue regeneration. Successful removal of air from the nanopores and subsequent impregnation of nanoceria has been accomplished through a simple experimental vacuum design setup presented in the paper. Variation of dispersion media of nanoparticles resulted in varying concentration difference in the nanoporous silica gels. It was found that the toluene based solution penetrated more deeply into the tablet, due to less agglomeration than the aqueous solution and varying surface tension. The ceria concentration in the tablet was determined by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS), and is found to depend on the duration of the vacuum. The nanoceria-silica tablets are immersed in a simulated body fluid to study the rate of release of the nanoparticles in the solution. Various pore size release nanoparticles at a controlled rate.