The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering efforts in Drug Delivery include efforts focused on the diseases of asthma, cancer, COPD, cystic fibrosis as well as infectious disease. We work on small molecule, protein, and oligonucleotide therapeutics with delivery strategies including inhalable aerosols, polymer-based systems, and serum proteins. We work closely with teams at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, the UAB Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, and Southern Research to help provide better treatments for patients.
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Polymer nanoparticles and nanogels are developed for theranostic applications. We work on incorporating drug, RNAs, and iron oxide or metal nano-clusters for delivery and imaging along with polymer nanoparticles.
Chronic, inflammatory disease of conducting airways affects 300 million people worldwide. Affluent societies have occurrence in 1 in 10 children and 1 in 12 adults. Estimated economic impact is estimated to exceed $18B. A mixture of genetic susceptibility and environmental risk factors lead to a variety of endotypes and consideration of asthma as a syndrome. Inhalable treatments such as Advair Diskus® contain a cortical steroid to produce anti-inflammatory and vasoconstriction effects, a beta-agonist to relax bronchial muscles, and a lactose excipient to assist in formulating micron-sized particles for optimal delivery into the lung.
At UAB MME, the Spectroscopic Histology Service Center features the mIRage-LS O-PTIR and IconR AFM-IR for characterization of the aerosol particles as a function of aerodynamic size. We use the capabilities to optimize the co-localization of drug on the aerosol particles, which is known to impact efficacy in a synergistic fashion, and to develop bioequivalence methods for comparison of Name Brand and Generic drug formulations. For design we optimization of aerosol drug formulations, the lab features a spray dryer and Next Generation Impactor.
Contact
For more information, please reach out to:
Mark Banaszak Holl at
Vinoy Thomas at