FURI | Spring 2019

Ultrasound-mediated Drug Delivery with Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based Polymers

Ultrasound-enhanced polymer degradation is used to improve the quality and rate of polymer degradation and the polymer’s ability to release encapsulated substances. The goal of this research is to study how drug delivery methods can be improved by allowing the enclosed drug(s) travel to targeted areas in a controlled manner and by improving the release rate. Using ultrasound-enhanced polymer degradation on thermoreversible polymers containing a model drug, drug delivery release rate can be monitored by observing phase changes due to exposure to high frequency sound waves of ultrasounds. Future studies can be broadened to other polymers.