Johns Hopkins University
Friday, September 18, 2026
12:00 Noon
Meyerhoff Chemistry Building, Room 120
Host: Dr. Marie-Christine Daniel
“Nanobottles for Encapsulation and Theranostic Applications”
Bottles have been around for over 10,000 years and they are indispensable for the storage and transport of liquid and solid goods. The unique design of a bottle offers advantages in terms of easiness and convenience for packaging, storage, and delivery or transportation. With the help of a simple cork or cap, the bottle can be used to hold the loaded content for a long period of time by protecting it from evaporation, decomposition, contamination, or deterioration. We are working to reduce the dimensions of bottles to the nanometer scale by developing colloidal particles with a hollow interior and small opening(s) in the wall. In this talk, I will begin with a brief introduction to the general structures and properties of nanobottles, followed by a discussion on various fabrication methods. I will then showcase the use of nanobottles for different types of payloads, including small-molecule drugs, biomacromolecules, imaging contrast agents, and functional nanoparticles. I will also highlight strategies for controlling the release by integrating with a stimuli-responsive material. It is hoped that the audience will be inspired to work on this class of nanomaterials and push them toward greater success in terms of commercial/clinical applications.