group
What campus are you from?
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Takara K O'Brien, Senior Rahela A Dolha, Sophomore Lauren A Wilson, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Takara K O'Brien
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Foram Madiyar
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease presents significant challenges in treatment due to the chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Current therapeutic strategies, while effective in managing symptoms, often lead to suboptimal outcomes and undesirable side effects. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems offer a potential solution by providing targeted delivery to inflamed tissues, minimizing systemic exposure, and improving drug efficacy. This research aims to develop a novel, pH-sensitive drug-polymer complex using Eudragit S100 and L100 polymers to encapsulate 5-aminosalicylic acid and select flavonoids, targeting inflammation at multiple points along the GI tract. Electrospray technology was employed to fabricate the drug-polymer system, with preliminary tests indicating favorable polymer solubility in ethanol and successful deposition using a single-needle electrospray setup. Preliminary tests confirmed effective solubility of polymers and active compounds in ethanol, with UV spectroscopy optimizing detection wavelengths. Results show polymer concentration significantly influences fiber morphology; low concentrations (0.5–1% w/v) produce droplets, while high concentrations (>10% w/v) yield smooth, bead-free fibers critical for uniform drug loading and controlled release. These findings highlight the potential of the proposed drug-polymer complex as an improved delivery system for IBD therapies. This study will further investigate the creation of a multi-layered polymer complex capable of withstanding the digestive environment for optimal drug release. Additionally, the use of triaxial needles in electrospray will be assessed to enhance encapsulation efficiency and drug delivery precision. The research will employ a variety of characterization techniques, including Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), to evaluate the physical properties, structural integrity, and drug loading capacity of the developed complexes.
Did this research project receive funding support from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
Yes, Ignite Grant
Development and Evaluation of pH-Sensitive Drug-Polymer Complexes for Targeted IBD Therapy Using Electrospray Technology
Inflammatory bowel disease presents significant challenges in treatment due to the chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Current therapeutic strategies, while effective in managing symptoms, often lead to suboptimal outcomes and undesirable side effects. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems offer a potential solution by providing targeted delivery to inflamed tissues, minimizing systemic exposure, and improving drug efficacy. This research aims to develop a novel, pH-sensitive drug-polymer complex using Eudragit S100 and L100 polymers to encapsulate 5-aminosalicylic acid and select flavonoids, targeting inflammation at multiple points along the GI tract. Electrospray technology was employed to fabricate the drug-polymer system, with preliminary tests indicating favorable polymer solubility in ethanol and successful deposition using a single-needle electrospray setup. Preliminary tests confirmed effective solubility of polymers and active compounds in ethanol, with UV spectroscopy optimizing detection wavelengths. Results show polymer concentration significantly influences fiber morphology; low concentrations (0.5–1% w/v) produce droplets, while high concentrations (>10% w/v) yield smooth, bead-free fibers critical for uniform drug loading and controlled release. These findings highlight the potential of the proposed drug-polymer complex as an improved delivery system for IBD therapies. This study will further investigate the creation of a multi-layered polymer complex capable of withstanding the digestive environment for optimal drug release. Additionally, the use of triaxial needles in electrospray will be assessed to enhance encapsulation efficiency and drug delivery precision. The research will employ a variety of characterization techniques, including Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), to evaluate the physical properties, structural integrity, and drug loading capacity of the developed complexes.