Design, synthesis, and characterization of our nanomaterials is the cornerstone of our research, group, and mission. Our lab has its origin story deeply intertwined with the field of nanomedicine, and we’re proud of the contributions we’ve made towards pioneering its application for immunotherapy. Our designs include but are not limited to apoA-1-based nanobiologics, nanoemulsions, liposomes, drug-loaded block-copolymer micelles, and nanocrystal-core lipoproteins. We have established a nanobiologic library, which is used to develop tailored immunotherapeutics for cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and transplantation. Furthermore, with our in-house radiochemistry suite, we are able to perform radiolabeling of our nano-platforms, enabling non-invasive tracking and tracing of our nanomaterials.

While hundreds of nanomedicine studies are produced every year, very few formulations are clinically approved. This is partly due to an undue reliance on murine studies, which suffer from limited value in accurately predicting translational efficacy in humans. To combat this experimental hindrance, our lab established a translational nanomedicine program with large animal models, ranging from rabbits to swine to non-human primates. It involves scaling up production and testing while in the preclinical phase, which provides a unique framework in preparing for clinical studies. In combination with access to clinical scanners through the BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, we have the unique privilege to study our therapies and probes in large animal models while performing imaging studies using some of the most advanced multimodality systems available.

The BMEII program in Nanomedicine began in 2006 under the direction of Dr. Willem Mulder. After Dr. Mulder returned to the Netherlands in 2021, his former trainees Bram Teunissen, PhD and Mandy van Leent, MD assumed roles as co-Directors of the lab under the supervision of BMEII Director Zahi Fayad, PhD. In 2023, Dr. van Leent shifted to the Cardiovascular group as her research became more aligned in this area. By combining expertise in chemistry, imaging, and immunology, the Nanomedicine lab creates nanomaterials to study and treat a variety of medical conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and organ transplant rejection.