Nanowires that target the airway lining to improve nasal drug delivery and control inflammation
Regulation of epithelial function using targeted nanowires
This work uses tiny biodegradable nanowires applied to the nose to change the airway lining and help deliver medicines for people with nasal or lung inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11109551 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating biodegradable polycaprolactone nanowires coated with antibodies that stick to integrin proteins on airway cells. The wires will be tested on human nasal and lung airway cells grown in the lab to see if they open or close tight junctions, move drugs across cells, or change cell growth and differentiation. Teams will use protein analyses and live and super‑resolution microscopy to find how the nanowires alter the cell scaffold and actin cytoskeleton. The goal is to learn how to tune nanowire composition to either increase or decrease barrier permeability for safer, more focused nasal therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with nasal or airway inflammatory conditions (for example chronic rhinosinusitis or other local airway inflammation) who are interested in topical nasal therapies would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions that do not involve the nasal or airway lining, those who need only systemic treatments, or those who cannot receive nasal topical treatments are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable targeted, nose-applied delivery of drugs and controlled tightening or loosening of the airway barrier to better treat local inflammation.
How similar studies have performed: Some nasal nanoparticle delivery approaches have shown promise in early research, but using anti‑integrin biodegradable nanowires to tune tight junctions is largely new and experimental.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Koval, Michael H. — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Koval, Michael H.
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.