Development of nanoparticle delivered therapeutics as a novel formulation to deliver intranasally.

The aim of this project is to manufacture nanoparticles capable of loading therapeutic concentrations of target drugs for delivery across the blood brain barrier. The delivery of therapeutics to the brain is essential to target the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and the blood brain barrier prevents the passage of therapeutics into the brain. Intranasal delivery offers the potential to deliver therapeutics directly to the brain overcoming the need for systemic delivery, while the formulation of therapeutics into biocompatible nanoparticles, will give the potential to deliver these therapeutics.
The nanoparticles will be manufactured from a range of materials using microfluidics and will be loaded with target therapeutics. The nanoparticles will be characterised utilising multiple techniques including UV-vis, fluorescence microscopy, FTIR, ToF SIMS, SEM, TEM, AFM-TERS. The loading of the nanoparticles will be optimised in line with target therapeutic concentrations. The release of the therapeutic will be characterised in line with established clinical dosing regimens. Once the nanoparticles are fully characterised, we will carry out toxicity studies in both primary and secondary cell lines, for the blood brain barrier, neural cells and olfactory tissue. To do this we will examine the metabolic rate, cell number and morphology of the cells to create a full toxicity profile. Finally, we will examine the changes the nanoparticle undergoes in a biological environment, how the exposure to the biological medium changes the nanoparticles and the effect this has on the structure of the nanoparticle and the release of the therapeutic. This will give the student significant experience in developing skillsets across an interdisciplinary project and increasing their employability at the end of the PhD, whilst also aligning with EPSRC strategic objectives.