Nature offers
amazing examples of nanostructured molecules and materials. An excellent
example of this is phytoglycogen, a
highly branched polymer of glucose that is produced in the form of dense, monodisperse
nanoparticles by some varieties of plants such as sweet corn. The
particles are chemically simple, but it is their dendrimeric or tree-like physical
structure that produces interesting and unusual properties such as extraordinary water retention, and low
viscosity and exceptional stability in water. These properties point to a wide
variety of potential applications from cosmetics to drug delivery, yet these
applications need to be enabled by a deeper understanding of the unique
structure of the particles and their interaction with water. I will describe
our journey from the initial serendipitous discovery of the particles to our
detailed analysis of their structure and hydration using a wide range of
techniques to the commercialization of this natural, sustainable nanotechnology
in our Guelph-based spinoff company Mirexus.