| 초록 |
Our group develops stimuli-responsive nanomaterials that utilize dynamic structural and architectural transitions to enable new drug delivery and diagnostic functionalities. For drug delivery applications we are focused on delivering biologic drugs to intracellular targets. Biologic drugs such as DNA, RNA and proteins have significant therapeutic potential, but effectively formulating and delivering them remains a widely recognized challenge. Barriers include drug stability, tissue penetration and transport, but cytoplasmic entry is a widespread barrier for those that function against intracellular disease targets. We have been developing synthetic polymeric carriers that mimic the highly efficient intracellular delivery systems found in pathogenic viruses and organisms. Another important aspect of these polymeric carriers is the development of controlled polymerization techniques to streamline bioconjugation of targeting agents and therapeutics, as well as to generate controlled carrier architectures. The carriers might open up new families of peptide, antibody or nucleic acid drug candidates that attack previously inaccessible intracellular targets. |
