Shruti Dharmaraj, MS
Metabolite-Based Nanoparticles to Treat Allergic Airway Inflammation
Abstract
Nearly one-third of Americans suffer from allergies. Allergy is characterized by Th2 cytokines which drive recruitment of innate and adaptive immune cells to restore homeostasis. Concurrently, activation of antigen presenting cells (APCs) by foreign antigens (Ag) results in key metabolic shifts that induce dysregulation in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Current treatments are non-curative and fail to address this complex pathophysiology. Our lab has developed ImmunoModulatory Particles for Reversing Inflammation and phenotype Transformation (IMPRINT-NPs) made from TCA cycle associated metabolites that that demonstrate the ability to skew macrophages towards anti-inflammatory phenotypes. The overarching goal of this proposal is to optimize Ag loaded IMPRINT-NPs to safely and effectively induce Th2 tolerance to treat allergy. This versatile platform offers a multimodal treatment approach to treat immune related diseases with underlying metabolic dysfunction.
I am honored and humbled to receive this fellowship to continue my dissertation work in the drug delivery field. The network of researchers will not only propel my research, but the support is a big boost and validation of my own abilities to continue being an impactful scientist in the future.
