Alexander Heiler

BioE Ph.D. Proposal Presentation

May 14, 2024

2:30 PM

Location: Ford Environmental Science and Technology (ES&T) L1120

https://gatech.zoom.us/j/8232545228?pwd=L0lSMHlBd2VtWXpqRHh0RHlOMmRnUT09&omn=94388598860

Meeting ID: 823 254 5228

Passcode: 267442

Advisor: Susan N. Thomas, Ph.D. (Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology)

Committee:

M.G. Finn, Ph.D. (School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology)

John Blazeck, Ph.D. (School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology)

Julie Champion, Ph.D. (School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology)

Jihoon Kim, Ph.D. (School of Integrative Engineering, Chung-Ang University)

Surface-tunable nanoparticles for studying lymphatic delivery dynamics

The properties of drug delivery vehicles are often modulated to better overcome biological barriers and enhance the delivery of bioactive molecules to their intended target, such as immunotherapeutic delivery to mediate the immune response to disease. In this presentation, I will describe my work in engineering the surface properties of poly(propylene sulfide) nanoparticles to modulate their transport behaviors and enable novel drug delivery dynamics and mechanisms. Using in vitro models recapitulating subcutaneous drug administration and uptake into the lymphatic system, the nanoparticle architecture and transport properties were characterized in the context of the copolymer properties comprising the nanoparticle surface. Furthermore, the nanoparticle surface was functionalized to display two reactive groups capable of conjugating two distinct antibodies in controlled ratios, enabling complex interactions with lymphocyte surface receptors. Additionally, a light-responsive cleavable linker will be used to form a photoactivatable fluorescent tracer able to evaluate nanoparticle delivery dynamics within the lymph node. This proposal enhances nanomaterial tools to evaluate nanoparticle delivery across different biological barriers in support of immunotherapeutic delivery to modulate the immune response.