(526g) Leveraging Particle Size, Shape, and Deformability for Enhanced Drug Targeting in Acute and Chronic Inflammatory Diseases (Invited Speaker)

Localized delivery of therapeutics offers the possibility of increased drug effectiveness while minimizing side effects often associated with systemic drug administration. Our work focuses on probing the role of particle geometry, deformability, and blood rheology/dynamics on the ability of vascular-targeted drug carriers to interact with the blood vessel wall - an important consideration that will control the effectiveness of drug targeting regardless of the targeted disease or delivered therapeutically. This presentation will highlight the carrier-blood cell interactions that affect drug carrier binding to the vascular wall and alter critical neutrophil functions in disease. The talk will present the design parameters for optimal drug carriers' design for active and passive use in treating many inflammatory diseases.