This publication presents a series of experiments in
the field
of nanomedicine for high school chemistry education and student laboratories,
developed as a collaborative project between chemistry didactics and
chemical research. In this context, polymeric nanocarriers represent
a promising approach for drug delivery, acting as “smart packaging
material” to ensure transport to the desired location in the
body and a targeted release. This offers the opportunity of a locally
higher drug concentration while reducing the overall dose administered
and minimizing side effects of the drugs. In this article, we illustrate
how this attractive field of research can be linked to polymer chemistry
as a classical school topic through the model of transfer research.
In addition, we present three experiments where polymer nanocarriers
are (1) synthesized and (2) loaded with a fluorescent model substance,
which is (3) selectively released through the degradation of the polyester
carrier via hydrolysis. All experiments can be performed with simple
and harmless chemicals within a time frame of two school lessons.
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