A nondenaturing solid phase pharmaceutical carrier comprised of surface-modified nanocrystalline materials.

Numerous carrier systems have been developed for the controlled delivery of biologically active molecules such as drugs and diagnostic agents. The biophysical interactions between the biologically active molecules and their carriers, however, may denature the former and lead to reduced biological activity. In this study, a model nondenaturing carrier comprised of a nanocrystalline (10 -7 m) tin oxide core and a surface-charge-reducing organic bonding layer (GF292) was synthesized. A subsequently bound protein (human transferrin) showed significant retained conformation by immunoelectron microscopy. In the synthesis of targeted drug systems and vaccines, nanocrystalline cores treated with appropriate surface-modifying agents may be suitable carriers.