September
29,
2023
(Drug DELIVERY Specific Seminar)
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition of complex pathophysiological origin that develops due to an uncontrolled host immune response to an infection. In 2017, an estimated 48.9 million incident cases of sepsis were recorded worldwide, and sepsis-related deaths represented one-fifth (20%) of all global deaths. Despite the severity of this condition, there are currently no FDA-approved treatment options that improve patient survival, even though over 100 therapeutic clinical trials have been conducted. The failure of these clinical trials is not surprising, as none have been designed to address the considerable heterogeneity in clinical manifestations and complexity of immune responses that develop in sepsis.
To address this issue, we are exploring the use of nanoparticles to modulate the responses of innate and adaptive immune cells. This approach aims to restore dysregulated cell functions to a healthy state. Our research group is particularly focused on developing high-throughput methods for formulating and screening cargo-less nanoparticles for sepsis and traumatic injury applications. Using mouse models of lethal severe inflammation and polymicrobial sepsis, we have identified polymeric nanoparticle formulations that significantly improve survival outcomes by leveraging a multipronged therapeutic approach. In this presentation, I will describe the progress and challenges associated with developing nanotherapies for sepsis, including the physical and biological mechanisms that contribute to their activity. Finally, I will highlight our collaborative efforts to develop multiOmics approaches. These approaches help us study the biomolecular corona surrounding nanoparticles, allowing us to understand how the diversity in inflammatory disease states affects nanoparticle properties, interactions with biological systems, and their immunomodulatory effects.
Hosted by Seungpyo Hong
