Location
Innovation Lab, Room 212
Start Date
4-2-2025 1:30 PM
End Date
4-2-2025 2:00 PM
Presentation Date
2 April 2025, 1:30pm - 2:00pm
Biography
Kamden George is a Senior majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry working in Dr. Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis' chemistry lab. His research focuses on the effect of morphology on two aerogels, polyurea and poly(isocyanurate-urethane), and how different morphologies affect the ability of the aerogels to hold and release drugs, e.g. 5-fluorouracil and Paracetemol. Outside of the lab, Kamden works as an ambassador scribe at the Phelps Health Emergency Department and is an avid enjoyer of video games, basketball, American football, and nature photography. Kamden plans to apply to Physician Assistant school after attaining his baccalaureate degree.
Meeting Name
2025 - Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference
Department(s)
Chemistry
Document Type
Presentation
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2025 The Authors, All rights reserved
Included in
The Effect of Nanomorphology as Quantified via the K‑Index on the Drug Delivery Properties of Isocyanate-Derived Aerogels
Innovation Lab, Room 212
Comments
Advisor: Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis
Abstract:
This study explores the potential to predict the drug loading and release profiles of aerogels based on their morphologies: a milestone in drug delivery research which can help save time and cost invested in formulating new aerogel drug carriers and cut-down evaluation of the drug delivery capabilities of aerogels to a few experimental runs. Polyurea (PUA) and poly(isocyanurate-urethane) (PIR-PUR) aerogels were used as model systems while 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and paracetamol (PM) were used as model drugs. These model systems were chosen because they can be synthesized into different morphologies identified by the so-called K-index (contact angle:porosity). The model drugs were loaded onto the aerogels using a physical adsorption method, and the drug-loaded aerogels were characterized with FT-IR, SEM, DSC, XPS and UV spectroscopy. Drugs could fill the porous network of the aerogels up to about 10% v/v and their release mechanism was predominantly through Fickian diffusion. Comparing all the morphologies studied, aerogels with K-indexes 1.2-1.6 could load larger amounts of drug, those with K-indexes 1.5 and 2.2 were more suitable for immediate-release formulations, those with K-indexes 1.2, 1.3 and 1.6-2.0 were more suitable for sustained release formulations, and nanofibrous morphology (K-index = 1.6) was more suitable for controlled release formulations.