Synthesis of Biocompatible Polymer Nanoparticles and

Their Application in Drug Delivery System

Ben Fan

bfan@fas.harvard.edu

Fact: “1 in 10 marketed drugs have solubility problems; over a third of pipeline drugs are poorly soluble”. However, loading drug into environmentally responsive polymer nanoparticles is an effective way to enhance its biocompatibility. First, size reduction to nanometer order increases drug’s dissolution rate in human body. Second, drug release kinetics can be controlled by applying external stimuli to polymer nanoparticles. The purpose of this study is to synthesize “smart” polymer nanoparticles, and then use them as drug carrier.