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UID:0-8439@eng.ufl.edu
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260420T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260420T160000
DTSTAMP:20260407T200420Z
URL:https://www.eng.ufl.edu/news-events/events/bme-seminar-engineering-inj
 ectable-parenchygel-for-local-drug-delivery-to-the-cns/
SUMMARY:BME Seminar: "Engineering Injectable 'ParenchyGel' for Local Drug D
 elivery to the CNS"
DESCRIPTION:John R. Clegg\, Ph.D.\nAssistant Professor of Biomedical Engine
 ering\nUniversity of Oklahoma\nAbstract: Treatment of neurological disease
 s is limited by poor bioavailability of systemically administered drugs to
  the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma. Local administration of ther
 apeutics to the CNS parenchyma via biomaterial implants is a potentially p
 romising approach for treating select neurological diseases that are alrea
 dy indicated for invasive neurosurgery. However\, few biomaterials have be
 en developed as intracerebral implants\, and knowledge about the usefulnes
 s and performance of common biomaterials in CNS environments is poorly und
 erstood\, relative to more typical dermal\, musculoskeletal\, dental\, or 
 ocular applications. To address this gap in knowledge and technology\, my 
 lab develops that brain-inspired hydrogels comprised of methacrylated hyal
 uronic acid\, heparin\, gelatin\, and other for direct injection into the 
 CNS parenchyma and highly localized drug delivery. These materials have be
 en tested in rodents\, and we are currently exploring translation with the
  long-term goal of treating human patients. Hydrogel blends were designed 
 for brain biomimicry (i.e.\, composition\, water content\, and Young’s m
 odulus)\, modularity\, and their ability to encapsulated diverse payloads 
 (i.e.\, ranging from small molecules to live cell therapeutics). We evalua
 ted distinct designs in two rodent models. Local delivery of doxorubicin w
 as evaluated for primary glioblastoma (G55 orthotopic xenograft in mice) D
 elivery of doxorubicin via a peri-tumorally injected hydrogel reduced the 
 rate of G55 tumor growth and improved overall survival\, relative to contr
 ol mice. Local recombinant protein immunotherapy was tested for attenuatio
 n of secondary brain damage and recovery in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)
  in rats. Local delivery accelerated functional recovery post-ICH in the a
 utologous blood rat model\, relative to sham surgery and hydrogel carrier-
 only controls. Hydrogel injection was well tolerated in both models\, as e
 videnced by behavioral\, histological\, and biochemical measures. Together
 \, our results establish proof-of-concept that intracerebral injection of 
 brain-inspired hydrogels\, integrated with existing neurosurgical procedur
 es\, enables neurological disease treatment with agents (e.g.\, recombinan
 t cytokines\, doxorubicin) that do not reach the brain when dosed systemic
 ally. This student-invited seminar will also include associated anecdotes 
 and candid discussions of challenges\, pitfalls\, and progress in my acade
 mic career\, which I hope will be useful to trainees at earlier career sta
 ges.\nBio: Dr. John R. Clegg is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engin
 eering at the University of Oklahoma (Norman\, OK). He is concurrently an 
 Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery\, a member of the Harrold Hamm
  Diabetes Center\, and a member of the Stephenson Cancer Center at the Uni
 versity of Oklahoma Health Campus (Oklahoma City\, OK). Dr. Clegg obtained
  his PhD from the University of Texas\, Austin in the laboratory of Prof. 
 Nicholas Peppas and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard University 
 under Prof. Samir Mitragotri. His lab studies hydrogel delivery systems an
 d combination products involving adoptively transferred immune cells for n
 eurotrauma and brain tumors. His team also utilizes polymeric and hydrogel
  nanoparticles to influence innate immune cell phenotype\, with applicatio
 n in both pre-conditioning of donor cells for adoptive transfer and immuno
 modulation following systemic delivery of nanoparticle suspensions. His te
 am evaluates these therapeutics in cell culture\, human organoid/spheroid\
 , and rodent model systems. Dr. Clegg’s research has been recognized wit
 h several awards\, including the NIH-NIGMS Maximizing Investigators’ Res
 earch Award\, NSF GRFP\, and the best paper award from the Controlled Rele
 ase Society. He is an active member of the BMES\, SFB\, and CRS.
CATEGORIES:Seminars
LOCATION:Communicore Room C1-4\, 1249 Center Dr.\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 
 32610\, United States
GEO:29.648381;-82.348511
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=1249 Center Dr.\, Gainesvil
 le\, Florida\, 32610\, United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Communicor
 e Room C1-4:geo:29.648381,-82.348511
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