ChE Seminar Series with You-Yeon Won, Ph.D.

Details

Title:
Polymer Lung Surfactant: A Novel Polymer Nanoparticle Therapy for Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Presented by:
You-Yeon Won, Ph.D.
Professor
Davidson School of Chemical Engineering
Purdue University, West Lafayette

Abstract:
Our lab has pioneered the development of an innovative Polymer Lung Surfactant (PLS) therapy aimed at treating Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)—a life-threatening lung condition triggered by various factors, including COVID-19. ARDS disrupts the function of the body’s natural lung surfactant (LS), which is essential for normal breathing. Unfortunately, conventional treatments have failed to address this issue. Clinical trials using exogenous lipid-based surfactants have largely been unsuccessful, as these formulations become inactivated in the inflammatory environments of ARDS-affected lungs.1 Our approach takes a different route, using synthetic polymers to regulate and reduce surface tension at the alveolar air-water interface, offering a potential breakthrough in ARDS therapy.

Developing an effective PLS material is a major challenge. It must be highly hydrophilic to ensure aqueous delivery, yet it also needs strong interfacial affinity to effectively lower surface tension. Leveraging our expertise in aqueous and interfacial self-assembly of block copolymers, we identified poly(styrene)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PS-PEG) nano-micelles as a promising PLS candidate.2 The unique structure of PS-PEG micelles—with PEG chains providing dispersion in water and a hydrophobic PS core ensuring strong adsorption at the air-water interface—allows them to reduce interfacial tension to near-zero mN/m, mimicking the function of natural lung surfactants.2

Further studies have shown that PLS maintains its surface activity even in the presence of biological inhibitors associated with ARDS, such as plasma proteins and lipase enzymes.2 This resilience has been validated through both in vitro and in vivo studies, where PLS-mediated surface tension reduction has also been linked to therapeutic anti-inflammatory effects via mechanotransduction mechanisms.3 Despite its synthetic polymer composition, PS-PEG micelles have demonstrated low toxicity and favorable pharmacokinetics, reinforcing their potential for clinical translation.4

We are now working to commercialize this technology through Spirrow Therapeutics, marking a significant step forward in polymer physics research by showcasing its direct impact on public health and therapeutic innovation. This seminar will present our latest findings on the molecular characteristics of PS-PEG micelles, particularly how their structure enables low surface tension and high compressibility at the air-water interface—two critical properties for ARDS therapy. The discussion will also explore PEG-based block copolymers, demonstrating that only those with strongly hydrophobic and rigid cores meet the required performance standards, along with insights into the molecular mechanisms driving ultra-low surface tension in these systems.

Bio:
Dr. Won obtained his B.S. in Chemical Engineering with top honors from Seoul National University (1992). He completed his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota (2000), working under the guidance of Professor Frank S. Bates and the late Professor H. Ted Davis. Subsequently, he pursued postdoctoral training in Applied Physics at Harvard from 2001 to 2003, under the mentorship of Professor David A. Weitz, and in Materials Science and Engineering at MIT from 2000 to 2001, guided by the late Professor Anne M. Mayes. Dr. Won embarked on his academic career at Purdue University as an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering in 2003, becoming an Associate Professor in 2009 and a full Professor in 2014.

While initially rooted in polymers, colloids, and soft matter physics, Dr. Won’s current research endeavors to encompass the development and investigation of (1) radio-luminescent theranostic agents for cancer treatment, (2) synthetic pulmonary surfactants for the management of respiratory failure, and (3) sequence-tailored copolymers for controlled drug release. Dr. Won also actively engages in entrepreneurial pursuits aimed at commercializing these innovative technologies.

To date, he has authored 100 articles in major journals and books, accumulating over 10,000 citations, and has filed 17 US/PCT patent applications. Dr. Won’s contributions have been recognized through several awards and honors, including the ACS PRF Starter and New Directions Awards (2007, 2019), KIChE Outstanding Young Investigator Award (2007), 3M Nontenured Faculty Award (2008), Bindley Fellowship from Purdue University (2012), Purdue University Innovators Hall of Fame (2016), Purdue Trask Innovation Award (2018), and recognition as one of the Most Impactful Faculty Innovators at Purdue (2020, 2023).