Engineering Multifunctional Nanoparticle-Polymer Composites for Targeted Biomedical Systems

Abstract

Advances in nanotechnology and biomaterials have opened new frontiers in the design of intelligent systems capable of sensing, responding, and adapting within biological environments. This thesis focuses on the engineering of multifunctional nanoparticle-polymer composites that integrate chemical specificity with physical responsiveness to enable next-generation targeted biomedical systems. Two complementary material platforms were developed to demonstrate this concept. The first, a polysuccinimide-silica nanocomposite, was engineered to enhance molecular recognition and surface interaction in microneedle-based devices. By modulating surface charge and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, the platform achieved significant improvement in protein conjugation and biofluid capture efficiency, validated through in vitro and in vivo analyses. The second platform, a polyethylene glycol hydrogel integrated with room-temperature multiferroic nanoparticles, leveraged magnetoelectric coupling to achieve dual-mode, label-free biosignal transduction via ferroelectric and ferromagnetic mechanisms. This hybrid hydrogel demonstrated exceptional sensitivity and stability, detecting protein analytes at femtomolar concentrations while maintaining mechanical compliance and biocompatibility. Together, these studies establish a unified framework for adaptive nanoparticle–polymer composites that bridge biochemical recognition and physical actuation. The insights gained extend beyond biosensing toward applications in regenerative engineering, therapeutic feedback systems, and real-time physiological monitoring. This work highlights the potential of multifunctional nanocomposites to serve as foundational materials for future bio-integrated platforms capable of dynamic interaction, precise control, and targeted response within complex biological systems.