LINXS Guest Seminar Colloidal lipid self-assembly materials in nanomedicine with Calum Drummond

LINXS Guest Seminar Colloidal lipid self-assembly materials in nanomedicine with Calum Drummond

When: Wednesday April 5, 10.30 - 12.00
Where: at LINXS (Scheelvägen 19, Lund), with digital participation possibility (Zoom)
Title: Colloidal lipid self-assembly materials in nanomedicine
Speaker: Calum Drummond Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation and a Vice President of RMIT University

Abstract:
 Colloidal (nanoparticulate) lipid nanocarriers of bioactive agents are receiving increased attention from the research community.  In part, this significant interest is a direct consequence of Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer developing mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19, where lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) deliver the mRNA to the desired cell target.  In addition to mRNA, these LNPs are composed of an ionisable lipid for complexing the nucleic acid, PEGylated lipid to sterically stabilise the NP, and structural “helper” lipids.  A microfluidic formulation process is generally used to produce the LNPs.

More broadly, harnessing the potential of lipid nanocarriers to deliver bioactive agents holds great promise in treating and preventing a range of diseases.  In this presentation, the preparation of colloidal lipid nanocarriers with lyotropic liquid crystalline internal mesostructure will be described.  The focus will be on cubosomes and hexosomes.

The self-assembled nanostructures of LNPs are closely related to their interactions with cells and biological function.  LNP-cell interaction will be outlined.  The behaviour of ionisable lipids and novel steric stabilisers residing in these LNPs can be used to control structure, stability, and functional performance.  Examples of the bioactive performance of self-assembled lipid nanocarriers of antifungal and antibacterial drugs, vaccines, and chemotherapeutics will be discussed.

Read more and register at LINXS web page