Enhancing Efficacy and Safety: Targeted Lipid Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Delivery
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
2:30 PM-4:00 PM
BIOMED Seminar
Title:
Enhancing Efficacy and Safety: Targeted Lipid Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Delivery
Speaker:
Jia Nong, PhD
Vladimir Muzykantov Lab Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research Associate
Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics
University of Pennsylvania
Co-founder of NanoMuse, LLC
Details:
The unprecedented success of COVID-19 mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines, administered to billions of patients, has demonstrated the remarkable potential of LNPs to induce expression of specific proteins. This breakthrough has catalyzed over $10 billion in investments from industry and government sources to develop LNP-based therapeutics. The convergence of LNP technology with organ- and cell-specific targeting presents a novel treatment paradigm for a wide range of acute and chronic diseases.
This talk will outline our approach to developing effective targeted nanomedicine while addressing critical safety concerns. First, we will demonstrate how antibody conjugation to LNPs significantly improves blood-brain barrier targeting and drug uptake, with potential applications in acute ischemic stroke treatment. Next, we'll explore the interactions between targeted nanoparticles and blood components, particularly the complement system, which can lead to rapid clearance and anaphylatoxin release. Our strategy of incorporating complement regulatory proteins onto nanoparticles mitigates these adverse effects, enhancing the safety profile of targeted nanomedicine. Finally, we'll share our latest advancements in optimizing LNP platforms for improved DNA delivery, aiming to establish DNA-LNP as the premier approach for treating common chronic diseases. By addressing these key aspects, we are paving the way for safer, more effective targeted nanomedicine, with far-reaching implications for the future of therapeutic interventions.
Biosketch:
Jia Nong, PhD, graduated with a bachelor degree in Biotechnology from Jianghan University, Wuhan, China in 2011, before pursuing her advanced studies at Drexel University, where she earned both her master's degree in Biomedical Science and PhD in Biomedical Engineering.
Dr. Nong joined Dr. Vladimir Muzykantov lab in 2019 as a postdoctoral research fellow, and was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship by the American Heart Association. Currently, Dr. Nong holds the position of Research Associate in the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also the co-founder of NanoMuse, LLC, bridging academic research with practical applications in the biotech industry.
Dr. Nong's research focuses on: Biomaterials and nanomedicine, material-cell interactions, cardiovascular diseases and therapy development, with a particular interest in design and development of novel lipid nanoparticle platforms for targeted therapeutic delivery. She has 3 patents, and published 22 scientific papers in Journals like Advanced Materials, Molecular Therapy, and ACS Nano. She also serves as executive committee members in Division of Translational and Clinical Pharmacology and Division of Mentored Career Development in The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Her overarching goal is to minimize safety concerns while maximizing therapeutic efficacy, paving the way for the successful translation of targeted nanomedicine from laboratory to clinical applications.
Contact Information
Carolyn Riley
cr63@drexel.edu