Prof. Yasuyuki Tsuboi and Dr. Ken-ichi Yuyama (Osaka Metropolitan Univ.) investigated the single particle kinetics of the molecular release processes from two types of microcapsules used as drug delivery systems (DDS): biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) and a light-triggered-degradable liposome encapsulating gold nanospheres (liposome-GNP). The study is based on optical tweezers and fluorescence microspectroscopy. An optical vortex beam could change the rate of molecular release. Moreover, since some liposomes have functions of chiral recognition and transformation, the technique can potentially be applied to chiral material science.
This result was published in Analytical Chemistry on July 30, 2024.

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05950