Chemistry Seminar Presented by Prof. Arturo Vegas: "Molecular Frontiers in Drug Delivery"

"Molecular Frontiers in Drug Delivery" Zoom: https://duke.zoom.us/j/95878688394 Therapeutic agents, such as small molecule drugs, are developed to preferentially modulate the function of specific classes of proteins associated with diseased cellular states. These agents are typically not designed to overcome physiological barriers or localize to diseased tissues in the body, and often manifest off-target adverse effects from indiscriminate biodistribution. Formulation of therapeutics with nanocarriers often improves pharmacological properties, but ligands (small molecules, peptides, or proteins) that target unique molecular features of diseased tissue are commonly needed to direct their physiological biodistribution. While there is some success targeting nanocarriers to certain tissues, to date there are few ligands utilized with a limited scope of targeted tissues. Here, we review the new targeting technologies and polymeric delivery systems developed in our lab. We aim to expand the current suite of targeting agents and nanocarriers by establishing new targeting paradigms and novel materials that enable localization of therapeutic payloads to disease microenvironments. To learn more about the Vegas lab and their research, please visit: https://www.avegaslab.com/. Faculty Host: Prof. Qiu Wang