Synthesis of Novel Calcium Phosphate Nanowhiskers

Project ID:  D2011-31a Background: Viral gene delivery techniques are among the most commonly used gene delivery techniques owing to their high reported efficiencies.  The primary drawback of viral gene delivery results from the risks associated with insertional mutagenesis. In some instances, such therapies have resulted in patient death after the development of cancer or from complications due to immunosuppressant drugs required for proper viral gene delivery. Recent developments in materials science and nanoparticle synthesis have demonstrated that inorganic materials can serve as nonviral agents to deliver therapeutic nucleotide sequences. Invention Description:Novel, nontoxic, cost-effective method of producing high aspect ratio calcium phosphate nanowhiskers with controlled morphology, phase and inclusion of dopants.Advantages:·       Increased loading capacity due to high surface area to volume ratio·       Intrinsic properties allow nanowhiskers to mimic delivery mechanism of viruses and other nonviral methods with increased efficiency: cytoxocity relationship over other nonviral methods·       Nanowhiskers may be doped to possess increased strength, fluorescence, magnetic or electrical properties for in vitro and in vivo imaging and other applications in which these properties are desired with low cytotoxicity. ·       Able to be produced on the nanoscale range·       Biodegradable/biocompatible  properties of calcium phosphates·       Fast, cost-effective method of synthesisApplications:·       Biomedical applications such as tissue engineering scaffolds and/or carriers of therapeutic molecules such as drugs, proteins and genetic molecules. May also be used as additives in material applications in which an increased strength-to-weight ratio is sought. Dopant materials may be included in the synthesized crystal structure to yield nanoparticles with unique optical, electrical and magnetic properties.IP Status: U.S. Utility Patent #8,906,415

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