Exciting findings emerged from these activity screenings -> Intrinsic particle activity acts largely in combination with bound cytokine activity, and pre-conditioning or co-stimulatory conditions (e.g., presence of IFNg in the media) significantly change the macrophage response.

We validated production of this platform by a number of approaches, including DLS, dynamic drug release, activity validation, and Cryo-TEM. We then looked at patterns of bioactivity under various dosing regimens relevant to immunotherapy (e.g,. prophylactic, co-stimulatory)

We call our approach "Synthetic Nanoparticle CytoKines" or "SyNK". By immobilizing cytokines on nanogels, we eliminate release to surroundings + retain the ability for (now particle-bound) cytokine to bind transmembrane receptors and elicit changes to macrophage phenotype.

Proud of Chloe Catelain, a MS student from my lab, who defended her MS thesis last week! Chloe is the first graduate from my laboratory at the Univ. of Oklahoma! Chloe is moving on to complete her PhD in formulation development for infectious diseases and immunology at Utrecht University!