2020 Virtual undergraduate Research symposium

Using Starch Nanoparticles for Alternative Drug Administration


PROJECT NUMBER: 26

AUTHOR: Jessica Fiala, Chemical and Biological Engineering

MENTOR: Brian Trewyn, Chemistry | MENTOR: Glory Russell-Parks, Chemistry

 

ABSTRACT

Many people today struggle with dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. This condition worsens with age and often stems from medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS). As a result, easy, at-home administration of various drugs becomes impossible because of the difficulty or inability to swallow pills and liquids. Starch nanoparticles are proving to be a promising alternative source to administer drugs because of the ability of the starch particles to be broken down by enzymes naturally found in saliva. The nanopores in the starch nanoparticles can be expanded with pore swelling agents to allow for different sized drugs to be loaded into the pore, which can then be released as the starch is broken down in the mouth. This will allow for the administration of drugs without the need to swallow. In this study, vanillin will be used as a model drug to be loaded into the pores because of its similar size to drug molecules and application as a flavor molecule that can be easily tested. The different syntheses of starch nanoparticles from different starch sources will be discussed, as well as future applications of this project including a multi-drug carrying system.

 

VISUAL PRESENTATION

 

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Jessica Fiala is currently a first year student that is majoring in Chemical and Biological Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. Chemistry and biology have always excited her growing up, which is why she is thrilled to participate in this research in the Chemistry department. Her project is through the Freshman Innovation and Research Scholar Training, or the FIRST program, with her faculty mentor Dr. Brian Trewyn and her other mentor Glory Russell-Parks, a graduate student in Chemistry. Her project is synthesizing starch nanoparticles to act as a carrier for drugs, allowing patients who have difficulty swallowing to receive medicine through dissolving the starch loaded with drugs in the mouth, where the nanoparticles will be absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Jessica has aspirations of becoming a professor in Biochemistry.

 


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