Polymer nanoparticles to understand and control inflammation
Polymeric Nanomaterials for Probing and Modulating Innate Immune Responses
Tiny polymer particles are being developed to find and calm overactive innate immune responses that drive chronic inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325694 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses engineered polymer nanomaterials to interact with innate immune cells and the inflammasome, a central trigger of long-lasting inflammation. Researchers will test how different particle designs change immune-cell behavior in lab-grown human immune cells and in animal models. They will use those results to redesign polymers that avoid accidentally turning on inflammasomes and that can reduce harmful inflammation. The project aims to create tools that both reveal how damaging inflammation starts and point toward safer, targeted therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with chronic inflammatory conditions driven by innate immune overactivation (for example some autoinflammatory disorders, certain forms of arthritis, or inflammatory bowel disease) would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People with conditions not driven by innate inflammasome activity—such as purely structural problems, some infections, or conditions dominated by adaptive immune mechanisms—may not benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to targeted treatments that reduce harmful chronic inflammation with fewer side effects.
How similar studies have performed: Nanomaterials have been used to target immune cells before, but deliberately tuning polymer designs to probe and dampen inflammasome-driven inflammation is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Hadley, United States
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kulkarni, Ashish a. — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Kulkarni, Ashish a.
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.