In April 2018, the NIH/NCI Nanoparticle Characterization Laboratory (NCL) accepted our propofol-loaded polymeric perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions into their characterization and testing program, which is designed to promote the clinical translation of novel nanomedicines. These propofol-loaded nanoparticles  will now undergo their rigorous in vitro and in vivo evaluation. If these particles pass the NCL assays with acceptable results, we plan to apply for an investigatory license from the FDA for first-in-human trials to complete noninvasive functional brain mapping as part of neurologic and neurosurgical evaluations.

https://nanolab.cancer.gov/sites/default/files/May%202018.pdf

Congrats Qian and Jason! Their manuscript entitled “Polymeric perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions are ultrasound-activated wireless drug infusion catheters” is currently available on the preprint server bioRxiv at https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/09/10/315044.

This work developed polymeric perfluoropentane nanoemulsion as a generalized platform for localized ultrasonic drug delivery. They showed that this nanotechnology platform can be used to encapsulate most hydrophobic drugs. The nanoemulsions have shown excellent ultrasound responsiveness and bioeffects for a wide variety of drugs, and demonstrated a stability that yields high potential for clinical translation for noninvasive ultrasonic drug uncaging in the brain and body.