BioPharma-engineered Drugs and Biologics Delivery Laboratory

Welcome to the BioPharma-engineered Drugs and Biologics Delivery Laboratory

Mission

Our mission is to advance innovative drug and gene delivery strategies for the targeted transport of therapeutics, including drugs, proteins, siRNA, and miRNA to disease sites. We develop both conventional and targeted lipidic and polymeric delivery systems designed to enhance treatment precision while minimizing effects on healthy tissues. These approaches are being investigated for applications in lung cancer, breast cancer, neuroblastoma, asthma, and bacterial and viral infections, including COVID-19.

Research Goals and Approach
The goal of our research group is to develop cutting-edge drug and gene delivery systems that advance innovation in pharmaceutics, drug and gene delivery, bioengineering, pharmacology, and therapeutic discovery. Our work focuses on creating next-generation delivery platforms for the treatment of cancer, pulmonary disorders, and other human diseases.

We design and engineer natural- and synthetic-polymer-based, multifunctional, and bioresponsive delivery systems, including nanocarriers (NCs), capable of selectively delivering therapeutic agents to specific disease sites while minimizing effects on healthy tissues. These systems are being developed for applications in cancer, pulmonary diseases, and skin disorders.

Multidisciplinary Strategy

Our research integrates a multidisciplinary approach combining:

• Conventional and targeted novel drug, gene, and biologics delivery systems
• Nanotechnology and Microtechnology
• Natural and bioengineered polymer chemistry
• Oral, inhaled, nasal, and parenteral conventional and novel biopharma products
• Stimuli-responsive drug release mechanisms
• Molecular biology
• Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicology

Research Focus and Innovation

Our research explores multiple administration routes—including inhalation, nasal, parenteral, and oral delivery to improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce adverse effects. In addition to treatment, our targeted delivery systems are designed to function as tools for in vivo studies.

We employ advanced strategies to optimize delivery performance, such as:

• Releasing therapeutics in response to intracellular triggers (e.g., redox, pH)
• Bioresponsive site-specific receptor targeting via lipidic and polymeric delivery systems
• Enhanced cellular uptake in cells associated with disease using stimuli-responsive nano or microparticles
• Intracellularly bioreducible nanocarriers

Translational Impact

Our conventional and targeted drug, gene, and biologics delivery approaches are being investigated for the treatment of lung cancer, breast cancer, neuroblastoma, asthma, and bacterial and viral infections, including COVID-19. A key focus of our research is the development of next-generation NCs based on a “magic bullet” concept—engineered systems that can recognize diseased or inflamed cells and selectively enhance the delivery of therapeutic agents while sparing healthy tissues.

The long-term goal of our research is to translate these innovations from preclinical studies into clinical applications, enabling the initiation of clinical trials and improving patient outcomes through more precise and effective therapies.