ABOUT
PROJECTS
ABOUT
The primary focus of our research group will be the prevention of inflammatory diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes, beginning with a diagnosis through drug delivery.
In order to diagnose and cure these diseases effectively, new and innovative solutions are required to reduce or abrogate these risk factors.
The drug delivery vehicles will be applied to
- Targeted drug delivery for cardiovascular diseases
- Innovative tools to cure cancers
- The development of gene/protein delivery for treating diabetes
- Design of novel drugs and delivery systems for Alzheimer鈥檚 diesease
PROJECTS
Targeted Drug Delivery for Cardiovascular Diseases
Abstract
In atherosclerosis, activated endothelial cells (EC) generate more reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory mediators that recruit monocytes to the vessel wall.
Novel monocyte-based drug delivery systems encapsulating either catalase or tempol/tempo will scavenge ROS efficiently due to its target specificity to damaged EC.
Related Articles
- Sungmun Lee* (Corresponding Author), 鈥淢onocytes: a novel drug delivery system targeting atherosclerosis鈥�, Journal of Drug Targeting, 22(2), 138-145 (2014)
Innovative Tools to Cure Cancers
Abstract
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy using drugs and ionizing radiation can destroy cancer cells non-invasively; however, they also have a negative effect on normal cells. The goal of the cancer treatment is to remove cancer completely without any damage to the rest of the body. One solution for cancer therapy is multifunctional gold nanoparticles coated with anticancer drugs and targeting molecules that treat cancers safely and efficiently.
Related Articles
- Sungmun Lee* (Corresponding Author), Leena Al-Kaabi, Aur茅lie Mawart, Herbert Jelinek, Kinda Khalaf, Ahsan Khandoker, and Habiba Alsafar, 鈥淯ltrasound-Mediated聽Drug Delivery with Gas Bubbles Generated by Chemical Reaction鈥�, Journal of Drug Targeting, 20(2), 172-181 (2018)
- Nahla Rizk, Nicolas Christoforou, Sungmun Lee* (Corresponding Author), 鈥淥ptimization of anti-cancer drugs and a targeting molecule on multifunctional gold nanoparticles鈥�, 27(18), 185704, (2016)
Development of Gene/Protein Delivery for Treating Diabetes
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases such as diabetes.聽 ROS such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide are overproduced by activated macrophages.聽 As scavengers of ROS, enzymatic proteins such as catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) have a great therapeutic potential; however,聽in vivo聽application is limited especially when they are orally administered.聽 Although, the oral route is the most convenient for drug administration, therapeutic proteins are easily degraded in vivo by the harsh conditions of gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Zein nanoparticles can protect therapeutic proteins, catalase and SOD, from the harsh conditions of GI tract.聽 Folate-conjugated catalase or SOD in zein nanoparticles can target the activated macrophages and scavenge the ROS generated by macrophages in vitro.
Related Articles
- Sungmun Lee* (Corresponding Author), Yeu-Chun Kim, and Ji-Ho Park, 鈥淶ein-alginate based oral drug delivery systems: protection and release of therapeutic proteins鈥�, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 515, 300-306, (2016)
- Sungmun Lee* (Corresponding Author), Noaf Alwahab, and Zainab Moazzam, 鈥淶ein-based oral drug delivery system targeting activated macrophages鈥�, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 454(1), 388-393 (2013)
Design of Novel Drugs and Delivery Systems for Alzheimer's Diesease
Aggregation or fibril formation of pathogenic proteins causes many different types of diseases.聽 For example, aggregation of 尾-amyloid, 伪-synuclein, and tau proteins induces Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, Parkinson鈥檚 disease and Creutzfeldt Jacob disease respectively. Several studies show that pathogenic proteins form fibrils via a conformational transition from 伪-helix/random coil to 尾-sheet. Although the mechanism of aggregation is still under investigation, prevention of protein aggregation will be beneficial to slow down the diseases.
Related Articles
- Wei Qi, Aming Zhang, Dhara Patel, Sungmun Lee, Jamie Harrington, Liming Zhao, David Schaefer, Theresa A. Good, and Erik J. Fernandez, 鈥淪imultaneous monitoring of peptide aggregate distributions, structure, and kinetics using amide hydrogen exchange.鈥� Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 100(6), 1214-1227 (2008)
- Sungmun Lee, Erik Fernandez and Theresa Good, 鈥淩ole of aggregation conditions in structure, stability and toxicity of intermediates in the A尾 fibril formation pathway, 聽Protein Science, 16(4), 723-732 (2007)
- Sungmun Lee, Kenneth Carson, Allison Rice-Ficht, and Theresa Good, 鈥淪mall heat shock proteins differentially affect A尾 aggregation and toxicity鈥�, Biophysical and Biochemical Research Communications, 347(2), 527-533 (2006)
- Sungmun Lee, Kenneth Carson, Allison Rice-Ficht, and Theresa Good, 鈥淗sp20, a novel 伪-crystallin, prevents A尾 fibril formation and toxicity鈥�, Protein Science, 14(3), 593-601 (2005)
Students
- Sarah Qassem Azzam (Msc by Research), Khalifa University
- Kenana Muaiad Al Adem (Ph.D.), Khalifa University
Funding
今日吃瓜 Internal Fund Level 2 (KUIRFL2) 2017-2018. PI: Sung Mun Lee
