GOALI: Laser-based Layer-by-Layer Nanomanufacturing of Water Insoluble Drug-Loaded Thin Films

这个赠款机会学术联络与行业（GOALI）奖支持的研究，有助于新的知识有关的使用和理解的纳米制造过程被称为基质辅助脉冲激光蒸发加工药品。基质辅助脉冲激光蒸发有可能彻底改变不溶于水的药物的生产方式。制造过程可用于将这些药物放置在称为脂质体的小球形容器中。然而，制备载药脂质体的高成本使得资源有限的个人和社区难以获得这些药物。基质辅助脉冲激光蒸发涉及在三维打印针上逐层沉积载药薄膜，用于以比当前技术更高的精度和更低的成本递送。新的组合化学、药物设计和药物筛选机制导致了大量新的水不溶性药物的开发。这项研究推进了这些药物的生产机制，从而使美国制药业受益，并提高了患者的生活质量。这个GOALI项目涉及多个学科，包括纳米技术，激光技术，制药科学，制造科学和材料科学。它通过在北卡罗来纳州自然科学博物馆和当地学校开展活动，帮助扩大妇女和代表人数不足的少数民族参与研究。北卡罗来纳州州立大学和Lynntech公司（一家开发医疗产品的公司）之间的合作，推动了使用基质辅助脉冲激光蒸发技术的药物纳米制造的商业化和临床转化。基质辅助脉冲激光蒸发纳米制造工艺可以克服与传统药物制造技术相关的几个限制，如成本和交付精度。通过该方法，可以在药物递送基底上形成含药物薄膜，并且对涂层厚度、粗糙度和均匀性具有优异的控制。该奖项克服了几个科学障碍，实现了基质辅助脉冲激光蒸发处理不溶于水的药物的全部潜力。这项研究旨在填补可用于治疗常见类型的皮肤癌（基底细胞癌）以及真菌感染的药物的加工参数，结构，化学性质和生物功能之间关系的知识空白。纳米复合薄膜的开发延长了药物释放的时间，有可能减少药物有效治疗所需的给药次数。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Grant Opportunity for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) award supports research that contributes new knowledge related to the use and understanding of a nanomanufacturing process known as matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation for processing pharmaceuticals. Matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation has the potential to revolutionize the way pharmaceuticals that do not dissolve in water are manufactured. Manufacturing processes are available to place these pharmaceuticals within small spherical containers that are known as liposomes. However, the high cost to make pharmaceutical-loaded liposomes makes accessibility to these pharmaceuticals difficult for individuals and communities with limited resources. Matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation involves layer-by-layer deposition of drug-loaded thin films on three-dimensional printed needles for delivery with greater precision and lower cost than current technologies. New combinatorial chemistry, drug design, and drug screening mechanisms have led to the development of a large number of new water-insoluble pharmaceuticals. This research advances the production mechanisms for these drugs thus benefiting the U.S. pharmaceutical industry and improving patient quality of life. This GOALI project involves several disciplines including nanotechnology, laser technology, pharmaceutical science, manufacturing science, and materials science. It helps broaden participation of women and underrepresented minorities in research through activities at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and local schools. Collaborations between North Carolina State University and Lynntech, a company that develops medical products, propels commercialization and clinical translation of nanomanufacturing of pharmaceuticals using matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation technology.The matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation nanoscale manufacturing process can overcome several limitations associated with conventional pharmaceutical manufacturing techniques such as cost and delivery precision. By this process, drug-containing thin films can be formed on drug delivery substrates with excellent control over coating thickness, roughness, and homogeneity. This award overcomes several scientific barriers to realize the full potential of matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation for processing pharmaceuticals that do not dissolve in water. This research is to fill the knowledge gap on the relationships among processing parameters, structure, chemical properties, and biological functionality for a drug that can be used to treat a common type of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) as well as fungal infections. The development of layered nanocomposite films, which extend the amount of time over which the drug is released, has the potential to reduce the number of times that a drug needs to be administered for effective treatment.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.