Abstract
Engineered nanomaterials hold great promise for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. A wide range of nanomaterials have been developed ranging from polymer particles to lipids, proteins and other synthetic compounds for drug delivery. However, only a handful cancer nanomedicines have been approved by the FDA (such as Doxil, and Abraxane). This demonstrates the huge gap between laboratory research and clinical translation of cancer nanomedicines, mainly due to two key barriers: (1) challenges in large-scale production of nanomedicine with good reproducibility and well-controlled properties due to complex multi-step synthesis procedures; (2) incomplete understanding of the interactions between nanoparticles and biological systems. To address these fundamental issues, my group has been focusing on the development of f bioinspired platform technologies for producing nanoparticle libraries with reproducible and systematically varied properties (liposomes, polymer nanoparticles and nanocapsules) with high drug loading. Through systematic studies, a new physical attribute – nanoparticles’ mechanical property – was discovered to play a crucial role in regulating their biological functions. We have also developed biomimicking chips (Tumor-on-a-Chip, Tumor-Vasculature-on-a-Chip) to fundamentally understand nanoparticle extravasation and their tumor accumulation. The current landscape of nanomedicine showcases remarkable progress, particularly in the realm of RNA nanomedicine, exemplified by the rapid development and deployment of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. This talk will also provide an overview of these advancements in Australia, discussing both the foundational science and the latest breakthroughs that are paving the way for the next generation of RNA nanomedicine.
Bio Blurb
Professor Chun-Xia Zhao is a Professor and an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Leadership Fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering at University of Adelaide, the Deputy Director of an Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence, and an Honorary Professor at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland. She leads a research group focusing on bioinspired engineering, biomimetic nanomaterials and microfluidics for drug delivery and controlled release. Prof. Zhao has published more than 160 referred articles and book chapters in international top refereed journals. She has been focusing on innovative research as evidenced by her eight patents, two licenses and one start-up. She has collaborated with many industry partners for translational research (Bioproton, BioCina, Cytiva, Vaxine, etc.). She has built extensive collaborations with scientists at top universities such as Harvard University, Brown University, etc. She serves as the Editors (Executive Editor of Chemical Engineering Science journal, etc.), Editorial Board member for several journals.