Targeted nanoparticle cyclosporine A treatment for lupus
Official title: Engineering the next generation nanoparticle-cyclosporine A therapy in lupus
Funded at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa · NIH-11166348 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops a tiny, targeted form of cyclosporine A designed to better reach immune tissues and help people with systemic lupus erythematosus.
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 21, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $443,846 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI155908-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11166348 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with systemic lupus erythematosus, particularly those with active disease not well controlled by current therapies or who cannot tolerate existing treatments, would be the likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable, well-controlled lupus, those with only mild or skin-limited disease, or those who cannot receive immunosuppressive drugs may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would be offered a tiny, biodegradable nanoparticle that carries cyclosporine A aimed at delivering the drug directly to immune tissues that drive lupus. The team focuses on gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), which holds many immune cells and is larger in people with lupus, to increase drug delivery to the target and reduce kidney exposure. Researchers are designing periodic-functional-polyester nanoparticles and testing their drug delivery, immune effects, and safety in laboratory and preclinical models compared with current formulations. If those tests go well, the approach could move toward clinical trials to see if it controls lupus with fewer side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could allow more effective lupus control with fewer systemic side effects and less kidney toxicity compared with current cyclosporine formulations.
How similar studies have gone: Nanoparticle delivery of immunosuppressants has shown promising preclinical results, but clinical proof-of-concept in lupus remains limited, so the approach is largely experimental.
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
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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.