Nanoscale control of ligand display to modulate barriers and improve delivery
Official title: Nanoscale control of ligand display & release to probe barrier modulation, targeted internalization, and endosomal escape
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11430426 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to test tiny, precisely arranged surface signals on particles to temporarily open barriers and improve delivery into cells for better targeting of therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $362,350 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM165781-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11430426 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with diseases where biologic delivery across barriers is a bottleneck and who could benefit from improved systemic or local delivery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose conditions do not involve barrier-limited delivery or where new delivery approaches are not applicable may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses modular biomaterials that present ligands at nanoscale patterns and can release contents with light triggers. The goal is to understand how nanoscale clustering of ligands influences uptake, transport across barriers, and escape from endosomes. By adjusting density, spacing, and flexibility of ligands, researchers aim to find safe design rules that transiently open tight junctions and enhance paracellular delivery. The work combines DNA-scaffolded ligand display with controlled release to probe delivery mechanisms at the cellular level. If successful, these principles could guide smarter delivery systems for biologics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable more efficient and targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules across challenging barriers.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that nanoscale ligand presentation can influence cell behavior and barrier properties, suggesting potential for progress with this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Xiao — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Huang, Xiao
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.