Prodrug design to improve how small drugs travel in the body
Official title: Prodrug engineering for enhanced biodistribution and pharmacokinetics
Funded at University of Miami Coral Gables · NIH-11345781 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research grant is exploring new ways to attach small drug molecules to carriers so they reach diseased areas more effectively and with fewer side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami Coral Gables NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $372,582 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM155068-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345781 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with cancers or cardiovascular diseases who might benefit from improved small-molecule therapies could be candidates for future clinical translation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients receiving current standard therapies without access to the new delivery methods may not directly benefit during this preclinical phase.
What this research studies
This project aims to create albumin-binding prodrugs and responsive polymer prodrugs that can ride along with the body's natural proteins to improve distribution and drug release at disease sites. Researchers will design, synthesize, and test these prodrugs to see if they can overcome solubility and pharmacokinetic hurdles seen with current therapies. The work combines chemistry with drug delivery approaches to tailor how and where the drug is released in the body. If successful, the strategies could apply to cancer and cardiovascular diseases where better targeting matters.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from drugs that work more effectively at lower side effects due to better delivery and release in diseased tissues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous delivery systems have shown improved pharmacokinetics in some cases, but this project tests novel albumin-binding and responsive prodrug strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami Coral Gables
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Fuwu — University of Miami Coral Gables
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Fuwu
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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.