Researcher(s)
- Ryan Svenson, Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- April Kloxin, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware
Abstract
Macrophages are innate immune cells that serve as the first line of defense against foreign pathogens and particulates that enter the lung pathways. Macrophages have been increasingly recognized for their role in chronic inflammation, in diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), a leading cause of death worldwide. Macrophages are a key player in chronic inflammation, causing high oxidative stress and low-grade continued inflammation. Current therapies for treating lung inflammation are ineffective. The goal of this project is to use liposomal nanoparticles to reverse the effects of inflammation and oxidative stress in macrophages. Liposomes are widely used as drug delivery vehicles due to their size, biocompatibility, and ability to encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules.
In this work, nanoparticles made with cholesterol and Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) were synthesized and characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) to verify size (<200 nm) and charge (approximately -10 mV). Uptake of particles by THP1 macrophages was verified using flow cytometry and confocal imaging to verify particle uptake and quantify dose dependency. We also showed the ability to stably encapsulate small molecules, using Rhodamine-B as a proxy molecule to test the encapsulation efficiency and release of the liposomes. The results of this work show preliminary data suggesting promise for using these liposomes as drug-delivery vehicles for macrophages. Future studies may explore using molecules to reverse inflammation with metabolites, such as 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA), which has shown promise for reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.