Ester Kwon, Ph.D.*

Postdoctoral Fellow, 
Research Scientist
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bio-inspired Nanomaterials that Interact with Host Biology

ABSTRACT

Recent advances in nanoscale materials that possess emergent physical properties and molecular organization hold great promise to impact human health in the diagnostic and therapeutic arenas. In order to be effective, nanomaterials need to navigate the host biology and traffic to relevant biological structures, such as diseased or pathogenic cells. Inspired by nature, I use peptides to transfer biological trafficking properties to synthetic nanomaterials to achieve targeted delivery of payloads. I will discuss the development of nanoscale technologies for application to three outstanding health problems: bacterial infections, cancer detection, and traumatic brain injury. A biodegradable nanoparticle carrying a peptide toxin trafficked to the bacterial surface has antimicrobial activity in a pneumonia model. Trafficking of a protease-sensitive nanosensor in an orthotopic ovarian cancer model sensitively detects cancer via a urine measurement. A neuron-targeted nanoparticle carrying siRNA traffics to neuronal populations and silences genes in a model of traumatic brain injury. This framework for assembling nanomaterials that leverage bio-inspired molecules to traffic diagnostic and therapeutic payloads can be applied broadly to solve problems in human health. 

Host: Johnna Temenoff, Ph.D.

Tuesday, March 7

10:30 a.m.
McIntire Room 3115,
Whitaker Bldg.

Videoconference:
Emory: HSRB E160
Georgia Tech: TEP 104