Novel nanotechnology strategies towards a new paradigm of precision nanomedicine
Cancer remains a devastating disease. Conventional treatment strategies are often associated with low therapeutic efficacy and significant systemic toxicity.
Simple monotherapies using conventional formulations are inadequate to fight cancers. To address these challenges, combinatorial or multimodal therapeutics involving simultaneous administration of two or more drugs or treatments in a single platform are needed to target multiple disease mechanisms. This project aims to develop highly effective and flexible strategies that facilitate the delivery and release of multimodal therapeutics (chemo drugs, inhibitors, immunotherapy, nucleic acids, etc.) into specific pathogenic areas for synergetic cancer therapy.
Current projects
Dr Yali Zhang
Quantitative evaluation of cellular delivery of nanoparticles
Primary investigator
Dr. Yali Zhang
Post Doctoral Researcher
Project abstract
Emerging therapies are more likely to rely on the delivery of biological therapeutics to the cytosol. Nanoparticles (NPs) have shown significant potential for delivery and successfully entered clinical use. However, most nanoparticles taken up by endocytosis either accumulate in endosomes and lysosomes or are pumped out through exocytosis, where they are not active for therapeutic functions. Current studies on how to enhance endosomal escape and release are hampered by a lack of quantitative methodology to detect NP delivery efficiency. Dr Zhang is developing quantitative assays to probe endosomal escape and cytosolic delivery of NPs, which provides a better understanding of endocytosis pathways and is beneficial to nanomedicine engineering.
Dr Dawei Liu
Barcoded nanoparticles for in vivo discovery of biodistribution
Primary investigator
Dr. Dawei Liu
Post Doctoral Researcher
Project abstract
Understanding nanoparticle biodistribution is crucial for biomedical applications such as drug delivery, imaging, and cancer therapy. Current in vivo tracking methods have limitations like low sensitivity and poor spatial resolution. To address these issues, a DNA barcoded nanoparticle method is being developed, consisting of a unique DNA barcode encapsulated within a nanoparticle shell. This system enables the detection and quantification of different nanoparticles in vivo, providing valuable data on biodistribution, clearance, and accumulation. This innovative approach may improve our understanding of nanoparticle pharmacokinetics and guide the development of more effective nanoparticle-based therapeutics.