Nanolayer Assemblies for Biologic Drug Release in Diabetic Ulcer Healing

This project examines the potential of a new water-based electrostatic layer assembly method to address the challenge of biologic drug delivery for the controlled release of siRNA and wound healing peptides to address chronic diabetic ulcers. In this nanolayer approach, protein native structure and activity is fully maintained due to the mild conditions of assembly, and a broad range of therapeutics, from small hydrophobic molecules to large macromolecular species such as DNA, can be introduced in various layers of the nanolayered thin film. This will enable synergistic release of biologic drugs and other therapeutic compounds that are key to the wound healing process, such as extracellular matrix components. The therapeutic serves as primary nanolayer constituent of the film, ensuring high loadings in ultrathin coatings that can be applied to surgical or wound dressings or scaffolds and provide a means for generating multicomponent release coatings where single and multiple drug components can be released with control and fidelity at desired loadings. Although the specific application sought here is the treatment of diabetic ulcers, this method can be potentially extended to venous ulcers, healing for vocal cord injury, and accelerated and fibrosis-free healing of large or chronic injuries.

Professor Hammond’s work is saving the lives of soldiers and civilians by reducing blood loss.