Advances in Hydrogel Materials for Medical and Pharmaceutical Applications
生物制药前沿科技
Nicholas A Peppas
Abstract
Engineering the molecular design of intelligent biomaterials by controlling structure, recognition and specificity is the first step in coordinating and duplicating complex biological and physiological processes. Recent developments in siRNA and protein delivery have been directed towards the preparation of targeted formulations for protein delivery to specific sites, use of environmentally-responsive polymers to achieve pH- or temperature-triggered delivery, usually in modulated mode, and improvement of the behavior of their mucoadhesive behavior and cell recognition. We address design and synthesis characteristics of novel crossed networks capable of protein release as well as artificial molecular structures capable of specific molecular recognition of biological molecules. Molecular imprinting and microimprinting techniques, which create stereo-specific three-dimensional binding cavities d on a biological compound of interest, can lead to preparation of biomimetic materials for intelligent drug delivery, drug targeting, and tissue engineering. We have been successful in synthesizing novel glucose- and protein-binding molecules d on non-covalent directed interactions formed via molecular imprinting techniques within aqueous media. We have also developed structurally superior materials to serve as effective carriers for siRNA delivery to combat Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis.
Biography
Nicholas A. Peppas, PhD, is the Cockrell Family Regents Chair in Engineering with joint appointments in the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering , Pediatrics, Surgery, and Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery at the University of Texas at Austin.
Professor Peppas is an international leader in the fields of medical devices, biomaterials, advanced controlled drug delivery, biosensors and bionanotechnology. He has been elected a member of US and international academies including the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Inventors, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Korean Academy of Sciences and Technology, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of France, the Royal National Academy of Spain, the Academy of Athens, the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering, and the Academy of Texas. Professor Peppas received a Dipl. Eng. NTU Athens in 1971. He came to the USA in August 1971 and studied biomedical and chemical engineering receiving his doctor of science (Sc.D.) MIT in October 1973.
Professor Nicholas A. Peppas is the leading researcher, inventor and pacesetter in the field of drug delivery and controlled release. He is a leader in chemical and biomedical engineering, polymer physics and chemistry, biomaterials, drug delivery and nanotechnology, opening up entirely new fields of science, generating multiple products and their subsequent generations, and collaborating throughout the world. Nationally and internationally, his contributions have had significant impact on scientific discovery and its subsequent benefits to human health. The multidisciplinary approach of his research in bionanotechnology and biomolecular engineering generated the next-generation systems and devices, including bioMEMS with enhanced applicability, reliability, functionality, and longevity. It was recently determined that 800 million patients worldwide have benefited Peppas’ therapeutic products.
Peppas has ranked as one of the most cited scientists and engineers (over 157,000 citations total) with an H-index of 184. Applications of these theories have been in the field of biomaterials as applied to medical therapeutic products. Professor Peppas and his students originated the novel muco- and bioadhesive systems that interact molecularly with the mucus and tissue and have been able to prolong bioavailability of proteins and peptides in the blood. As a result of his work, a number of biomedical polymers and commercial delivery devices have been launched. For example, Nicholas was the first to develop novel toxic-free poly(vinyl alcohol) gels by the freezing-thawing technique which became very successful articular cartilage replacement systems. He then developed the same systems for in situ replacement of vocal cords, a successful medical procedure that remained in practice until the late 1990s and assisted numerous patients. In the late 1970s he started working on contact and intraocular lenses. He was one of the first to develop hard, oxygen-permeable contact lenses that provided an improved method of helping patients with astigmatism and hypoxia. In the 1990s he was instrumental in designing important new intraocular lenses. His group pioneered the use of hydrogels in drug delivery applications, including epidermal bioadhesive systems and systems for the release of theophylline, proxyphylline, diltiazem, and oxprenolol. Perhaps the boldest development of Peppas’ lab has been the new technologies of oral delivery systems for insulin and other proteins for the transmucosal (oral, buccal) delivery of calcitonin (for treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women) and interferon alpha (for cancer therapy). Additionally, an oral form of interferon beta was developed for multiple sclerosis patients. A natural consequence of this work was his founding of three companies, Mimetic Solutions, CoraDyne and Appian Laboratories.
Professor Peppas’ contributions have been translated into more than twenty medical products with multibillion dollar markets. It is estimated that 800 million patients have benefited the products that have come out of the fundamental principles, translational research, development and commercialization efforts of Professor Peppas via new companies, devices and drug delivery systems.
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