Polyester Particles to Understand How Drugs Move from the Gut to Blood
Official title: Polyesters with controlled topologies for probing transcytosis at the gut-blood barrier
Funded at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa · NIH-11361117 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing tiny polymer particles to improve oral drug delivery and we may one day benefit from better absorption and predictable effects of medicines taken by mouth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tuscaloosa, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $366,677 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM146097-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361117 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals affected by conditions that rely on oral drug delivery and pharmacokinetics research, such as studies focused on drug absorption and distribution.
✕Less likely to help
This research is primarily preclinical; individual patients may not directly benefit unless they are part of a translational trial in the future.
What this research studies
This project aims to create specially structured polymer nanoparticles and test how they cross the gut barrier and travel through the body. It combines laboratory experiments, animal studies, and computer models to predict how drugs attached to these particles behave in the body. The goal is to build a bottom-up PBPK model that can translate preclinical findings into clinical understanding. If successful, it could lead to more reliable oral therapies with better absorption and fewer side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience medicines that are absorbed more reliably when taken by mouth and with more predictable effects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in polymer nanoparticle delivery and PBPK modeling has shown promise, with translational potential though still early.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Majeti, Ravikumar N — University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
- Study coordinator: Majeti, Ravikumar N
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.