Enhancements    

NANOPARTICLE-ENABLED IMMUNOMODULATION FOR SEPSIS PREVENTION IN TRAUMA AND COMBAT CASUALTY

NANOPARTICLE-ENABLED IMMUNOMODULATION FOR SEPSIS PREVENTION IN TRAUMA AND COMBAT CASUALTY
PI: Wilson Poon
Sponsor: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering
Amount awarded: $200,000

Sepsis is a growing concern from trauma and combat casualty, for example its annual incidence in active service members has increased 64% from 2011 to 2019. To address this, this project proposes to develop a prophylactic solution using mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles. These nanoparticles, when injected, prompt the liver to temporarily release immunomodulatory peptides, enhancing immune cell phagocytic activity. The engineered mRNA leads to the production of a fusion protein combining albumin and immunomodulatory peptides. The engineered albumin fusion protein approach allows sustained circulation and controlled release of the immunomodulatory peptides in the bloodstream, boosting liver Kupffer cell phagocytic activity. This self-sustaining approach aims to protect patients from sepsis resulting from trauma and combat injuries and can potentially be extended to address other blood-borne infectious diseases like malaria and hepatitis. Additionally, the proposed delivery system represents a significant advancement in drug delivery, enabling continuous in vivo production and secretion of various protein/peptide-based therapeutics.

Posting date: Wed, 04/17/2024

Award start date: Mon, 04/01/2024
Award end date: Thu, 07/31/2025