Magnetic microrobots to help deliver the CFTR gene through thick airway mucus
Magnetic Microrobots Assist AAV4 for CFTR Gene Delivery Through Mucus Barrier
This project will try using tiny magnet-controlled robots to carry a gene that makes working CFTR into the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michigan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330236 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers plan to attach AAV4 viral particles carrying CFTR DNA to magnetically controlled microrobots and use imaging to guide them through thick airway mucus to reach small airways. The team will use 3D-printed microrobots and magnetic fields to actively push past the mucus barrier that normally traps inhaled therapies. Experiments will start in CF-relevant laboratory and animal models to measure how well airway cells take up the CFTR gene and whether lung infection and inflammation are improved. Outcomes will include measures of gene delivery, CFTR function, mucus penetration, and markers of airway infection and inflammation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: If translated to people, ideal candidates would be individuals with cystic fibrosis who have CFTR mutations and obstructive mucus in their small airways.
Not a fit: People without cystic fibrosis, those whose CF cannot be addressed by adding CFTR cDNA, or patients not eligible for gene-delivery approaches are unlikely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could restore CFTR function in small airways, reduce chronic lung infections, and improve breathing and quality of life for people with cystic fibrosis.
How similar studies have performed: AAV-based CFTR gene delivery has shown promise in preclinical work, but using magnetically driven microrobots to penetrate airway mucus is a new and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
East Lansing, United States
- Michigan State University — East Lansing, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Jinxing — Michigan State University
- Study coordinator: Li, Jinxing
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 below.