Nga Thi Ngoc Vo
Targeted drug delivery using smart pH-responsive hydrogels.
Email: n.vo2@ncl.ac.uk
Project title
Smart pH-responsive hydrogels for targeted drug delivery applications
Supervisors
- School of Engineering
- School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences
Project description
An estimated £300 million of NHS prescribed medicines go to waste each year. This is particularly the case with elderly patients, who don’t take medicine at the correct intervals due to forgetfulness.
More importantly, patients may not experience the intended outcomes of their prescribed treatment. We must improve medicine adherence by ensuring that each patient receives the right medicine at the right dosage and at the right time.
Another considerable issue is delivering a drug that correlates with the circadian rhythm of diseases. Many acute and chronic diseases exhibit significant circadian patterns of symptoms and severities. Thus, they need chronopharmaceutics. Developing a drug delivery system able to refine the exact dose and optimal dose timing is of prime interest.
My project focuses on rhythmic biomaterial able to carry and deliver its drug load with a specific rhythm. A smart hydrogel will act as a chronotherapeutic carrier. The gel is based on chitosan, genipin and poly (ethylene glycol). It exhibits chemo-mechanical responses to pH changes. The result is a stepwise change in structure by collapsing or swelling. This leads to the repulsion of drugs out of the matrix or the attraction of drugs into the gel matrix. Based on collapsing behaviour, hydrogels would release drugs only when needed.
I will start by characterising the physical and chemical properties. This is crucial for the next step. I will then couple the hydrogels with oscillatory alkyne-terminated poly (ethylene glycol) systems. This will allow the hydrogels to control drug delivery in a pulse and self-regulated mechanism.
The project also investigates in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility. It will consider inflammation responses to achieve a clinically relevant rhythmic material. The research in engineering schools aimed at medical applications often fails to transition to clinic. This is due to lack of engagement with relevant clinical experts and other colleagues in medical schools. My project is split between the School of Engineering and the School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences. This demonstrates the power of collaborative work and anticipated potential.
Interests
Movies and football
Qualifications
- MSc in Pharmaceutical and Analytical Science, University of Huddersfield
- BSc in Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City