Nanopharmaceutics

Overview

The Nanopharmaceutics group is part of the Research Centre for Topical Drug Delivery and Toxicology.

The group is established to harness the use of nano-materials for biomedical and pharmaceutical application.

Our group focuses on the engineering of smart, functionalised polymeric nanoparticles for therapeutic delivery via parenteral, oral, nasal and ophthalmic administration. Diseases affecting the brain, posterior segment of eye and cancer require smart, targeted delivery systems to deliver therapeutic agents at the site of action to achieve optimal efficacy.

With our patented polymeric nanoparticles, we are able to demonstrate their potential in enhancing the efficacy of both small hydrophobic drug molecules and large macromolecules (peptides/ siRNA) in in vitro and in vivo models.

Biocompatibility of nanomedicine plays a pivotal role in translating their use in clinical practice. We are also involved in nanotoxicology research, particularly of polymeric nanoparticles and nanoparticles in the skin.

Understanding the nanotoxicity of these materials enable us to have a better understanding of how particle size, coatings, or other features in nanoparticles affecting their interactions with cells.

What the group does

The group currently holds four patents on nanoparticles based on self-assembled polymers and has a diverse range of on-going research in nanomedicine.

We have a wealth of experience from designing and optimising the construct of self-assembled polymers to formulation design and biological characterisation of these nano-structures, all supported by the extensive analytical and formulation laboratories and state of the art cell culture facilities.  

In summary, our activities currently include:

• Synthesis and characterisation of novel self-assembled polymers based on water soluble polymers
• Design of pH and enzyme responsive self-assembled polymers for cancer targeting
• Non-invasive delivery of macromolecules (proteins/peptides/siRNA)
• Nanomedicines for poorly soluble drugs
• Brain delivery of biomacromolecules for the treatment of CNS disorders
• Amphiphilic peptide self-assemblies in drug delivery
• In vitro nanotoxicology research
• In vitro elucidation of nanoparticle cellular uptake
• Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic preclinical studies of nanomedicine

Key projects

Ophthalmic drug delivery to the posterior eye segment using novel polymeric nanoparticles as drug carriers

Dr Cheng secured this EPSRC funded three-year case award in collaboration with MedPharm Ltd. Profound changes in lifestyle over recent decades have resulted in an increase in prevalence of conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Such conditions are associated with macular degeneration and are one of the main causes of deterioration in visual acuity or blindness in developed countries.

This grant is being used to investigate the use of polymeric nanoparticles as carriers for the delivery of drug molecules to the posterior eye segment, an area that is almost impossible to deliver drugs to using existing formulations and technologies.     ·      

Design of nano polyelectrolyte-protein complexes and evaluation of their in vitro biocompatibilities

This school-funded PhD project looks at the design of self-assembled polyelectrolyte – protein complexes and their use for non-invasive protein delivery. Unlike conventional protein encapsulation in the nanoparticles, the fabrication of these nano-complexes is simple and devoid of any use of organic solvents. This simple process results in high protein loading efficiency without protein denaturation.  

Simultaneously, this project also uses a range of in vitro toxicology assays such as heamocompatability, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity to enable us to have a better understanding of how the physico-chemical properties of these nanocomplexes affecting their interactions with cells.  

The engineering of smart, enzyme responsive polymeric self-assemblies for cancer targeting

This MSc by research project involves the synthesis of enzyme responsive polymeric self-assemblies. Smart, stimuli responsive delivery systems have gain considerable attention in recent years due to their ability to precisely control the drug release based on specific stimuli.

In this project, we aim to create enzyme responsive polymeric self-assemblies that are able to release hydrophobic cytotoxic drug intracellularly in response to the overly expressed enzymes in cancer cells.    

Peptide self-assemblies for the treatment of CNS cancers

This project focuses on the use of peptide self-assemblies which are able to penetrate across the blood brain barrier (BBB) and achieve a significant level in the brain. Treatment of brain diseases is currently limited by the poor drug bioavailability in the brain due to BBB. Delivery strategies that will allow therapeutic molecules to be transported into the brain could have a dramatic impact on the morbidity and mortality associated with neurological diseases and cancers.

In this project, peptide self-assemblies decorated with specific ligands will be loaded with cytotoxic drugs to target specific receptors present in glioblastoma. Once they are in the brain, these peptide self-assemblies will degrade inside the brain parenchyma and release the cytotoxic agent to target the brain tumour.

Engineering of medical/pharmaceutical grade biodegradable polymers for drug delivery

This project is funded by Chitomerics Ltd. One of the challenges in the pharmaceutical industry today is the availability of novel biomaterials as the building block for nanoparticle fabrication. Chitosan, a natural polymer with unique physicochemical and biological properties originating from chitin has been extensively researched in the development of nanomedicines.

However, their commercial availability in Europe and US is restricted to a few manufacturers. Additionally, limited information provided by the suppliers regarding their purity and properties also impacts negatively on the use of chitosan based nanomedicines from the lab to the clinic. Our aim is to overcome this by engineering highly pure chitosan polymers for use in medical and pharmaceutical applications.

Key publications

Click on this link to see a list of the key publications in nanopharmaceutics