NSEF Forum Award Presentation: Intelligent and Recognitive Nanoscale Systems for a New Generation of Therapeutic Applications

Engineering the molecular design of intelligent materials by controlling recognition and specificity is the first step in coordinating and duplicating complex biological and physiological processes. We address design and synthesis characteristics of novel nanoscale systems based on
 crosslinked networks capable of protein release as well as artificial molecular structures capable of specific molecular recognition of biological molecules. Recent developments in protein delivery have been directed towards the preparation of targeted formulations for protein delivery to specific sites, use of environmentally-responsive polymers to achieve pH- or temperature-triggered delivery, usually in modulated mode, and improvement of the behavior of their mucoadhesive behavior and cell recognition.  Configurational biomimetic  imprinting and microimprinting techniques, which create stereo-specific three-dimensional binding cavities based on a biological compound of interest can lead to preparation of biomimetic materials for intelligent drug delivery and drug targeting. We have been successful in synthesizing novel glucose-binding molecules based on non-covalent directed interactions formed via molecular imprinting techniques within aqueous media. Finally, this talk will address important questions related to the successful implementation on nanotechnology in drug delivery and especially in cancer treatment. [Stephanie D Steichen, Mary Caldorera-Moore, N A Peppas, Current nanoparticle and targeting moieties for the delivery of cancer therapeutics, Europ. J Pharm. Sci., 48, 416-427 (2013);  Mar Creixell, N A Peppas, Co-delivery of siRNA and therapeutic agents using nanocarriers to overcome cancer resistance, 7, 367-379 (2012); William B Liechty, N A Peppas,  Responsive polymer nanoparticles in cancer therapy, Europ. J Pharm. Biopharmac., 80, 241-246 (2012)].