Mechanically soft colloids, specifically microgels, have drawn interest in biotechnology due in part to their similarity in modulus to cells and tissues, their chemical diversity, and their wealth of free space for solutes. With increasing interest in these particles as delivery vehicles, application of different experimental methods are needed for accessing design rules for processes such as loading capacity, particle dissolution, protein fouling, circulation times, tumor penetration and renal clearance. Here, resistive pulse analysis (RPA) of microgel passage through glass capillary nanopores allows for study of the passage parameters, particle stiffness, and ionic content of microgels on a signal particle basis. In addition to accessing the specific design rules for allowing passage through small pores, RPA should provide direct single particle characterization of other nanotechnological parameters such as solute loading and particle degradation.

Soft particle passage through nanopores

244th National Meeting (2012)

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