Nanomedicine Advances Aim for Safer, More Effective Drug Delivery

ASU study reveals how water interactions influence nanoparticle performance, a key step toward realizing the potential of nanomedicine

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:38am

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A bold, abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals in earthy tones of green, blue, and brown, conceptually representing the intricate nanoscale interactions between nanoparticles and water that are crucial for advancing nanomedicine.Visualizing the complex interplay of nanoparticles and water that could unlock the full potential of safer, more effective drug delivery.Tempe Today

Researchers at Arizona State University have conducted a study that provides new insights into how water interacts with nanoparticles coated with different biomolecules, including proteins, polysaccharides, and fatty acids. The findings offer a better understanding of how these nanoparticle coatings can be engineered to improve the stability, immune response, and drug delivery capabilities of nanomedicine applications.

Why it matters

Nanomedicine holds great promise for delivering drugs directly to sites of illness, minimizing side effects and maximizing efficacy. However, the human body presents complex barriers that scientists must overcome. This study sheds light on the crucial role of water interactions in determining the biological performance of nanoparticles, which is a key step toward realizing the full potential of nanomedicine for safer and more effective drug delivery.

The details

The ASU team studied core-shell nanocomplexes composed of magnetite (iron oxide) cores coated with three representative biomolecules: a protein (bovine serum albumin), a polysaccharide (potato starch), and a fatty acid (lauric acid). Using highly sensitive calorimetry-gas adsorption systems, the researchers measured the energetics of water adsorption on the dry coated nanoparticles, their hydrophilic area, and interaction potential, and compared the results to free biomolecules and uncoated magnetite. The protein coating produced the strongest initial interaction with water but had incomplete surface coverage, the starch coating exhibited a large hydrophilic surface area with weaker interaction potential, and the fatty acid coating reorganized into a partial bilayer structure, resulting in strong water interaction and increased stability.

  • The research was conducted in 2026 at Arizona State University's Center for Materials of the Universe.

The players

Arizona State University

A public research university located in Tempe, Arizona, that conducted the study on nanoparticle-water interactions.

U.S. Department of Energy

The government agency that provided funding support for the research.

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What’s next

The research team plans to continue investigating the direct measurements of the stabilization effect of representative biomolecular coatings on nanoparticle complexes, which could lead to further advancements in the design of safer and more effective nanomedicine therapies.

The takeaway

This study provides a critical foundation for understanding the role of water interactions in determining the biological performance of nanoparticles, a key step toward realizing the full potential of nanomedicine for delivering drugs more safely and effectively to sites of illness.