Dr. Younan Xia
Johns Hopkins University
Friday, September 18, 2026
12:00 Noon
Meyerhoff Chemistry BuildingRoom 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.