(397ab) Layer-By-Layer Synthesis of Polymeric Carriers for Drug Delivery

Polymeric drug delivery carriers are the most investigated approach for development of therapies for disease treatment.  While promising, polymeric carriers have yet to make a lasting impact in the clinic mainly due to the rapid clearance from blood and limited targeting to diseased sites. The future of polymeric carriers for drug delivery depends on the synthesis and application of biomaterials that can address these challenges. Layer-by-layer synthesis of drug carriers allows for better control of biomaterial composition than that of typically used synthesis methods. Specifically, layer-by-layer synthesis allows for the precise control and modification over important parameters for targeted therapies such as size, shape, biocompatibility, surface chemistry, and drug encapsulation.  Recently, layer-by-layer synthesis has been used to create: (i) synthetic cells able to mimic their real life counterparts in terms of size, shape, and functionality [1, 2], (ii) biocompatible rod-shaped nanoparticles which provide distinct advantages over their spherical counterparts for targeted drug delivery [3], and (iii) drug-containing patches capable of adhering to the surface of immune cells for the targeted delivery to diseased tissues [4].  This poster will highlight the exploitation of layer-by-layer synthesis to create polymeric carriers (as described above) and their applications towards addressing the main challenges in the field of drug delivery.

1.         Doshi, N., et al., Platelet mimetic particles for targeting thrombi in flowing blood. Adv Mater, 2012. 24(28): p. 3864-9.

2.         Doshi, N., et al., Red blood cell-mimicking synthetic biomaterial particles. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2009. 106(51): p. 21495-9.

3.         Zhou, Z., A.C. Anselmo, and S. Mitragotri, Synthesis of Protein-Based, Rod-Shaped Particles from Spherical Templates using Layer-by-Layer Assembly.Adv Mater, 2013.

4.         Doshi, N., et al., Cell-based drug delivery devices using phagocytosis-resistant backpacks. Adv Mater, 2011. 23(12): p. H105-9.