Authors:

Aigerim Dzhumanazarova

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About Paper:

One major challenge in drug delivery system design is in the delivery of large biomolecular therapeutics such as proteins, peptides, plasmids and mRNA. The Teymour laboratory, in collaboration with the Papavasiliou laboratory, has developed a biocompatible nanoparticle emulsion (BCNE) produced through inverse emulsion polymerization. This platform is formed by dispersing hydrogel nanoparticles (NPs) in soybean oil, enabling a controlled and extended release of therapeutic agents. One issue regarding hydrogel-based nanoparticles is that it primarily relies on diffusion through a crosslinked polymer network. The transport of large therapeutics (30-300 kDa) requires less cross-linkage density, which significantly compromises mechanical integrity. Previously, in related work within the Teymour laboratory, Solomon Etchu developed emulsions containing hydrophobic polymer/wax composite nanoparticles with a core-shell architecture, demonstrating enhanced particle stability. Building upon this foundation, the current project aims to develop an inverse-emulsion analog, producing hydrophilic core-shell nanoparticles. We hypothesize that introducing a mechanically reinforced polymer shell surrounding a tuneable hydrophilic core will decouple structural stability from molecular diffusivity, enabling encapsulation and controlled release of large therapeutics without compromising particle integrity. Preliminary results demonstrate successful encapsulation of polyethylene glycol (PEG), a placeholder for the drugs, validating the feasibility of macromolecule loading. The first stage of the project focuses on optimizing emulsion stability by increasing ionic strength and adjusting surfactant concentration to improve particle formation and performance. Following these optimizations, the next stage will involve peptide loading and release kinetic experiments to evaluate the effectiveness and controllability of the release mechanism. Early findings indicate that the core-shell architecture improves structural robustness under reduced cross-linking conditions compared to conventional hydrogel nanoparticles. By overcoming the mechanical limitations of traditional hydrogels and addressing the unique challenges of inverse emulsion systems, this research establishes a more robust and versatile platform for vaccine development, gene therapy, and future advances in nanomedicine.

Source:

Illinois Institute of Technology

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Co-authors:

Aigerim Dzhumanazarova