How lifestyle changes affect blood proteins that coat injected nanoparticles
Official title: Individual lifestyle exposure as a determinant for the formation of biomolecule corona on nanoparticles
Funded at University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr · NIH-11260148 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether stress-related lifestyle differences change which blood proteins stick to injected nanoparticles and where those particles travel in the body.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Worth, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $74,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R03EB036760-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11260148 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who receive or may receive injectable nanoparticle-based therapies could ultimately benefit from findings that improve targeting and safety.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not treated with nanoparticle-based therapies or whose conditions are unrelated to blood protein changes are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific project.
What this research studies
This work uses animal models that mimic stressful lifestyles, such as social isolation and overcrowding, to see how those exposures change blood protein makeup and which proteins bind to injected nanoparticles. The team will inject nanoparticles into animals, collect blood and tissues, and identify the proteins that form the nanoparticle 'corona.' They will compare corona composition and nanoparticle biodistribution across the different lifestyle conditions. The goal is to understand whether everyday life factors can redirect nanoparticle medicines away from their intended targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help make nanoparticle-based medicines more predictable and better targeted by accounting for lifestyle-related differences in blood proteins.
How similar studies have gone: Previous preclinical work has shown that protein coronas affect nanoparticle distribution, but linking corona composition to lifestyle-induced serum changes is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr
Fort Worth, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Jayoung — University of North Texas Hlth Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Kim, Jayoung
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.