Abstract
In this work, a methodology that exploits the optical properties of the nanoporous anodic alumina gradient index filters (NAA-GIFs) has been developed and applied to evaluate in real time the release dynamics of a cargo molecule, acting as a model drug, filling the pores. NAA-GIFs with two photonic stopbands (PSBs) were prepared with one of its stop bands in the same absorption wavelength range of the cargo molecule, whereas the second stopband away from this absorption range. Numerical simulation and experiments confirm that the relative height of the high reflectance bands in the reflectance spectra of NAA-GIFs filled with the drug can be related to the relative amount of drug filling the pores. This property has been applied in a flow cell setup to measure in real-time the release dynamics of NAA-GIFs with the inner pore surface modified by layer-by-layer deposition of polyelectrolytes and loaded with the cargo molecule. The methodology developed in this work acts as a tool for the study of drug delivery from porous nanostructures.
Highlights
Recent years have seen tremendous growth in the design and engineering of nanoporous structures based on modified anodization strategies
Several studies have been conducted in the past to engineer different Nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals (NAA-PCs) structures by modified pulse-like anodization strategies such as pseudo stepwise [17], sinusoidal [18,19], Gaussian [20], saw-tooth [21], and stepwise [22]
Sinusoidal anodization profile aims to reshape the pore geometry in nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA)-GIFs through continuous modulation of pore diameter in depth
Summary
Recent years have seen tremendous growth in the design and engineering of nanoporous structures based on modified anodization strategies. Nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals (NAA-PCs) fall under the regime of optical materials having light modulation capabilities within the spectral regions (from UltraViolet to Infra-Red) allowing easy transport of molecules. This light confining capabilities of PCs can be engineered precisely enough to fabricate multidimensional architectures (1D, 2D, and 3D) depending upon the application [10,11,12]. NAA can be prepared by simple electrochemical anodization of aluminium in an electrolytic solution and consists of closed hexagonal arrays of nanopores from top to bottom.
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