Abstract
The articles in this special collection address topics relevant to nanoparticle targeting, drug delivery, and diagnostics for cystic fibrosis (mucus penetration, bacterial infections, and gene therapy), 1 ovarian cancer (small interfering RNA [siRNA] therapy), 2 pancreatic cancer (siRNA, microRNA [miR], and gene augmentation), 3 and the use of hydrazones for controlled drug release (for cancer, inflammation, chelation, and platelet aggregation). 4
The articles provide background on the different disease states or, in the case of hydrazones, the properties of the hydrazone bond; discuss current treatment options available in the clinic; and present nanoparticle-based approaches that can be applied to target specific diseases. Nanoparticles based on polymerics, metallics, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates are included, and strategies that incorporate both passive targeting and active targeting with the use of ligands, such as peptides and antibodies, are shared.
Together, this collection illustrates the growing use of nucleic acids for gene knockdown or augmentation. In addition, siRNA, miR, short-hairpin RNA (shRNA), and plasmids combined with nanoparticles are highlighted along with explanations for how gene therapy in combination with drugs such as chemotherapy can be used as an effective strategy against cancer.
The articles were prepared by undergraduate students majoring in biomedical engineering or chemical engineering, who were enrolled in BME 459: Introduction to Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery at the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC) (Los Angeles, CA) in the spring of 2018. This upper-level course covers topics in nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, nano-based imaging and diagnostics, nanotechnology-based tissue engineering approaches, host response to nanomaterials, nanotoxicology, and pharmacokinetics, in addition to aspects of regulatory affairs, teamwork, and scientific and professional communication. As their final project, teams of students wrote review papers and made PowerPoint presentations on specific subjects relevant to nanomedicine to obtain a deeper understanding of particular topics and further develop their communication and writing skills.
As their professor, I worked closely with these students and am listed as last author and corresponding author on most of articles. Although all team members contributed to the content and organization of the articles, the majority of the final manuscript preparation was completed by the first authors listed. We hope that SLAS Technology readers find value in the student work presented herein. USC has strong ties with SLAS, as many researchers attend the annual SLAS International Conference and Exhibition and many USC students are employed by companies that are members of the SLAS community.