Nanoparticle medicine to calm dangerous inflammation in sepsis
Bioactive immune-modulating nanodrug for sepsis treatment
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY · NIH-11319782
A tiny, targeted medicine that aims to soak up excess inflammatory molecules and calm life-threatening inflammation in people with sepsis and related conditions.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SYRACUSE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11319782 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing an engineered nanodrug called a telodendrimer nanotrap that can be given by injection or used in a blood-filtering (hemoperfusion) device to capture excess inflammatory molecules like bacterial toxins, cytokines, and DAMPs. The approach is designed to remove a broad mix of inflammatory signals at once rather than targeting a single mediator, with the goal of restoring balanced immune responses. So far the team has shown cures in severe sepsis mouse models when the nanotrap is optimized and combined with supportive therapy, and the grant supports further optimization and steps toward human translation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults with severe sepsis or sepsis-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who have dangerous, overactive inflammatory responses.
Not a fit: People with mild infections, illnesses not driven by the same inflammatory pathways, or conditions where removing inflammatory signals would be unsafe are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower life-threatening inflammation, reduce organ failure, and improve survival for people with sepsis.
How similar studies have performed: Related blood-filtering and anti-cytokine therapies have shown mixed results in patients, so this broad-spectrum nanotrap approach is promising but largely unproven in humans.
Where this research is happening
SYRACUSE, UNITED STATES
- UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY — SYRACUSE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LUO, JUNTAO — UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LUO, JUNTAO
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.
Conditions: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Autoimmune Diseases