Nanoencapsulation of therapeutic peptides in smart environmentally responsive biopolymers

我的研究方向是通过包埋生物制品，包括活细胞，酶和其他生物活性物质，如DNA和治疗肽的固定化。目的是将生物材料包装在通常称为微球或微胶囊的小球形颗粒或凝胶内。所述颗粒提供保护性环境，使得能够保持、稳定和/或受控递送用于治疗和其它应用。微囊化方案被设计成形成含有生物活性材料的微米级（直径约50微米至1 mm）涂覆或未涂覆的颗粒和凝胶。该提案中概述的研究目的是将粒径扩展到纳米级，从150 nm到直径几微米。将检查治疗肽的纳米封装和控制递送，包括胰岛素和人血管内皮生长因子。纳米颗粒将被设计为环境响应性的“智能”凝胶，因为它们将响应于环境触发（例如pH的变化）而膨胀或收缩。这种响应行为对于大蛋白质/肽和小蛋白质/肽的分别装载和保留以及对于肽的受控或触发释放（取决于预期的治疗应用）将是重要的。这项研究为培养高素质的人才提供了一个极好的机会，因为它是多学科的，跨越化学，生物化学和生物医学工程领域，重点是生物聚合物材料，生物技术和纳米技术，通过实验方法和仪器的支持。药品、生物技术产品、生物医学设备、先进材料、纳米产品和纳米技术等领域正在迅速发展，并在最近的重新分配工作中被确定为战略优先事项。口服胰岛素等蛋白质药物将是一个重要的突破，这将取决于所有这些领域的研究、培训和专业知识。

My research is directed toward the immobilization via entrapment of biologicals, including living cells, enzymes and other biologically active materials such as DNA and therapeutic peptides. The intent is to package the biological material, typically within small spherical particles or gels, termed microspheres or microcapsules. The particles provide a protective environment, enabling retention, stabilization, and/or controlled delivery for therapeutic and other applications. Microencapsulation protocols are designed to form micron-sized (approximately 50 microns to 1 mm diameter) coated or uncoated particles and gels, containing the bioactive material. The intent of the research outlined in this proposal is to extend the particle size into the nano-scale, from 150 nm to a few microns in diameter. Therapeutic peptides will be examined for nanoencapsulation and controlled delivery including insulin and human vascular endothelial growth factor. The nanoparticles will be designed to be environmentally responsive, "smart" gels in that they will swell or contract in response to environmental triggers such as a change in pH. This responsive behavior will be important for the loading and retention of large and small proteins/peptides respectively, and for controlled or triggered release of the peptide, depending on the intended therapeutic application. This research provides a wonderful opportunity for the training of highly qualified personnel, since it is multi-disciplinary, spanning the fields of chemical, biochemical and biomedical engineering, with a strong emphasis on biopolymeric materials, biotechnology and nanotechnology, supported through experimental methods and instrumentation. The fields of pharmaceuticals, biotech products, biomedical devices, advanced materials, nanoproducts and nanotechnologies are growing rapidly and are identified as strategic priorities in the most recent reallocation exercise. Oral administration of a protein-based drug such as insulin would be an important breakthrough, and will depend on research, training and expertise in all of these fields.