Molecularly Controlled Planar Cell Surface Models: Platform for Targeted Drug and Gene Delivery and Release Optimization

The main goal for drug formulations is to concentrate the medication in the tissues of interest while reducing the side effects. Nanoparticulate drug and gene delivery formulations have high expectations as new and more efficient medicines, for example for anti-cancer treatments. Targeting of nanoparticle drug and gene delivery systems into the cellular targets has been recognized as a promising approach for improving the intracellular
delivery efficacy for drugs and genes with a narrow therapeutic window, low bioavailability and low membrane permeability. Animal experiments are time consuming, expensive and they should be replaced by other in vitro methodology whenever possible. Therefore, a viable approach for targeted drug and gene delivery formulation
optimization and mechanistic understanding would be to develop a cell surface model with tunable properties.
The aim of this project is to develop a configurable platform to control cell surface model membrane properties, such as membrane fluidity, lipid composition, receptor composition, bioadhesion and air stability. This configurable
surface cell membrane model will be used to concurrently study fundamental parameters and conditions influencing
the delivery and release actions of nanoparticulate drug and gene delivery formulations. Furthermore, routes to print
microarrays of these surface cell membrane models for performing high throughput biology will be evaluated. A
wide range of physico-chemical surface specific characterization methods complementing each other will be employed during the studies.