"Polymer Nanoparticle Design and Delivery Strategies to Resolve Vascular Inflammation"
Speaker: Dr. Laura Bracaglia, Assistant Professor, Villanova University
Day and Date: Friday, November 22nd, 2024
Time: 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Location: HST 101
Abstract:
Polymer nanoparticles (NPs) can provide a safe and efficient delivery mechanism for therapy directly at specific tissues and cells, but achieving sufficient levels of NPs and therefore therapeutics in target tissues in humans has remained a barrier to the translation of this technology. The in vivo efficacy of polymeric NPs is dependent on their pharmacokinetics, including time in circulation and resulting tissue tropism, as well as intracellular trafficking and behavior. In this work, we examine tunable chemical and molecular characteristics of polymer NPs to tailor the design for an intended therapeutic delivery – both to and within the target cell. We are particularly interested in designing NPs and delivery strategies which can direct therapeutics to endothelial cells to correct dysfunctional inflammation in the vasculature. I will present several approaches for nucleic acid and small molecule delivery using polymeric NPs in vitro, in vivo, and in ex vivo models of human tissue, and show the impact of design changes on reducing inflammatory signaling. Our goal is to optimize NP design to combat dysfunctional inflammation locally and with more impact than globally administered therapies.
Bio:
I joined the faculty at Villanova University in the fall of 2022 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. I am continuing my research into NP-based therapeutic delivery to human vasculature and integrating these strategies with tissue-engineering to create tools for long-term immune modulation. Specifically, materials that provide support for tissue regrowth while temporarily inhibiting inflammation-related injury, thus reducing the burden of chronic inflammation. This work was born out of work I conducted as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Biomedical Engineering at Yale University as part of Dr. W. Mark Saltzman’s research group, as well as my graduate work, where I developed vascular, tissue engineered constructs using a combination of biological and synthetic materials at the University of Maryland with Dr. John Fisher in Bioengineering.
View Dr. Bracaglia's resume here!
This event is free and open to the public. Please reach out to the Department of Bioengineering (inbioe@lehigh.edu) w ith any questions or comments.