The research of Drug Delivery in Wang Lab focuses on designing novel drug delivery systems targeting different tissues and organs for various diseases. Dr. Wang’s early publications directly addressed the research and engineering of biodegradable and biocompatible drug-delivery materials. He explored the application of natural polymers to make drug-loaded fibers for wound healing [1, 2, 3]. The drug-loaded fibers can provide a sustained release to the wound and accelerate the healing process. Alginate and Chitosan composite membrane materials have provided sustained drug release for pharmaceutics [4, 5]. Dr. Wang has worked with colleagues to develop solid-lipid nanoparticles to treat rheumatoid arthritis [6], diabetes [7, 8], and liver disease [9]. In addition, Dr. Wang has developed several biomimetic and bio-responsive drug delivery systems for cancer therapy[10]. These intelligent systems could be used to treat breast cancer [11-14], Leukemia [15-18], Melanoma [19], and colorectal cancer [20]. Dr. Wang also works on developing specific targeting drug delivery systems for regenerative medicine [21], diabetes treatment [22], immunotherapy [23, 24], and neurodegenerative disorders [25]. In 2021, Dr. Wang reviewed the most recent advancements of PEGylated methods of nanoparticles and the related techniques to detect PEG coverage density and thickness on the particle’s surface [26]. The molecular weight (MW) and coverage density of PEG coating on nanoparticles’ surfaces are discussed to explain the effects on nanoparticles’ biophysical and chemical properties.

The Effects of Surface Polyethylene Glycol on Nanoparticles’ Fate for Targeted Drug Delivery. a. Film mechanical properties. b. Nanoparticle stability. c. Drug encapsulation and release behavior. d. Nonspecific adsorption of plasma proteins. e. Mucus penetration. f. The selectivity of active targeting. g. Cellular internalization. h. Circulation time in vivo. i. Accelerate blood clearance effects. [Ref. 26]

1) Wang Q, Zhang N, Hu X, Yang J, Du Y. Chitosan/starch fibers and their properties for drug controlled release. European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics. 2007; 66(3):398-404. PMID: 17196808
2) Wang Q, Zhang N, Hu X, Yang J, Du Y. Alginate/polyethylene glycol blend fibers and their properties for drug controlled release. Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A. 2007; 82(1):122-8. PMID: 17269140
3) Wang Q, Zhang N, Hu X, Yang J, Du Y. Chitosan/polyethylene glycol blend fibers and their properties for drug controlled release. Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A. 2008; 85(4):881-7. PMID: 17907240

4) Dong Z, Wang Q, Du Y. Alginate/gelatin blend films and their properties for drug controlled release. Journal of Membrane Science. 2006; 280(1):37–44.

5) Wang Q, Dong Z, Du Y, Kennedy JF. Controlled release of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride from chitosan/polyethylene glycol blend films. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2007; 69(2):336-343.

6) Ye J, Wang Q, Zhou X, Zhang N. Injectable actarit-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles as passive targeting therapeutic agents for rheumatoid arthritis. Int J Pharm. 2008; 352(1-2):273-9. PMID: 18054182.

7) Bi R, Shao W, Wang Q, Zhang N. Spray-freeze-dried dry powder inhalation of insulin-loaded liposomes for enhanced pulmonary delivery. J Drug Target. 2008; 16(9):639-48. PMID: 18982512.

8) Bi R, Shao W, Wang Q, Zhang N. Solid lipid nanoparticles as insulin inhalation carriers for enhanced pulmonary delivery. J Biomed Nanotechnol. 2009; 5(1):84-92. PMID: 20055110.

9) Yang B, Jiang J, Jiang L, Zheng P, Wang F, Zhou Y, Chen Z, Li M, Lian M, Tang S, Liu X, Peng H, Wang Q. Chitosan mediated solid lipid nanoparticles for enhanced liver delivery of zedoary turmeric oil in vivo. Int J Biol Macromol. 2020; 149:108-115. PMID: 31987952.

10) Zhang W, Zhao M, Gao Y, Cheng X, Liu X, Tang S, Peng Y, Wang N, Hu D, Peng H, Zhang J, Wang Q. Biomimetic Erythrocytes Engineered Drug Delivery for Cancer Therapy. Chemical Engineering Journal. 2022/04; 433:133498.

11) Cao J, Wang R, Gao N, Li M, Tian X, Yang W, Ruan Y, Zhou C, Wang G, Liu X, Tang S, Yu Y, Liu Y, Sun G, Peng H, Wang Q. A7RC peptide modified paclitaxel liposomes dually target breast cancer. Biomater Sci. 2015; 3(12):1545-54. PMID: 26291480.

12) Zheng H, Yin L, Zhang X, Zhang H, Hu R, Yin Y, Qiu T, Xiong X, Wang Q. Redox Sensitive Shell and Core Crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid Nanocarriers for Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery. J Biomed Nanotechnol. 2016; 12(8):1641-53. PMID: 29342343.

13) Zhang X, Zhang H, Yin L, Hu R, Qiu T, Yin Y, Xiong X, Zheng H, Wang Q. A pH-Sensitive Nanosystem Based on Carboxymethyl Chitosan for Tumor-Targeted Delivery of Daunorubicin. J Biomed Nanotechnol. 2016; 12(8):1688-98. PMID: 29342347.

14) Hu R, Zheng H, Cao J, Davoudi Z, Wang Q. Self-Assembled Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles for pH-Sensitive Release of Doxorubicin: Synthesis and In Vitro Characterization. J Biomed Nanotechnol. 2017; 13(9):1058-1068. PMID: 31251139.

15) Hu R, Zheng H, Cao J, Davoudi Z, Wang Q. Synthesis and In Vitro Characterization of Carboxymethyl Chitosan-CBA-Doxorubicin Conjugate Nanoparticles as pH-Sensitive Drug Delivery Systems. J Biomed Nanotechnol. 2017; 13(9):1097-1105. PMID: 31251142.

16) Wei X, Liao J, Davoudi Z, Zheng H, Chen J, Li D, Xiong X, Yin Y, Yu X, Xiong J, Wang Q. Folate Receptor-Targeted and GSH-Responsive Carboxymethyl Chitosan Nanoparticles Containing Covalently Entrapped 6-Mercaptopurine for Enhanced Intracellular Drug Delivery in Leukemia. Mar Drugs. 2018; 16(11). PMID: 30413077.

17) Liao J, Peng H, Wei X, Song Y, Liu C, Li D, Yin Y, Xiong X, Zheng H, Wang Q. A bio-responsive 6-mercaptopurine/doxorubicin based “Click Chemistry” polymeric prodrug for cancer therapy. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2020; 108:110461. PMID: 31924029.

18) Liao J, Peng H, Liu C, Li D, Yin Y, Lu B, Zheng H, Wang Q. Dual pH-responsive-charge-reversal micelle platform for enhanced anticancer therapy. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2021; 118:111527. PMID: 33255080.

19) Carter P, Narasimhan B, Wang Q. Biocompatible nanoparticles and vesicular systems in transdermal drug delivery for various skin diseases. Int J Pharm. 2019; 555:49-62. PMID: 30448309.

20) Nguyen TX, Huang L, Gauthier M, Yang G, Wang Q. Recent advances in liposome surface modification for oral drug delivery. Nanomedicine (Lond). 2016; 11(9):1169-85. PMID: 27074098.

21) Cheng G, Yin C, Tu H, Jiang S, Wang Q, Zhou X, Xing X, Xie C, Shi X, Du Y, Deng H, Li Z. Controlled Co-delivery of Growth Factors through Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Core-Shell Nanofibers for Improving Bone Regeneration. ACS Nano. 2019; 13(6):6372-6382. PMID: 31184474.

22) Di J, Yu J, Wang Q, Yao S, Suo D, Ye Y, Pless M, Zhu Y, Jing Y, Gu Z. Ultrasound-triggered Noninvasive Regulation of Blood Glucose Levels Using Microgels Integrated with Insulin Nanocapsules. Nano Research. 2017; 10(4):1393–1402.

23) Jia F, Liu X, Li L, Mallapragada S, Narasimhan B, Wang Q. Multifunctional nanoparticles for targeted delivery of immune activating and cancer therapeutic agents. J Control Release. 2013; 172(3):1020-34. PMID: 24140748.

24) Yang Y, Wang S, Wang Y, Wang X, Wang Q, Chen M. Advances in self-assembled chitosan nanomaterials for drug delivery. Biotechnol Adv. 2014; 32(7):1301-1316. PMID: 25109677.

25) Poovaiah N, Davoudi Z, Peng H, Schlichtmann B, Mallapragada S, Narasimhan B, Wang Q. Treatment of neurodegenerative disorders through the blood-brain barrier using nanocarriers. Nanoscale. 2018; 10(36):16962-16983. PMID: 30182106.

26) Shi L, Zhang J, Zhao M, Tang S, Cheng X, Zhang W, Li W, Liu X, Peng H, Wang Q. Effects of polyethylene glycol on the surface of nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery. Nanoscale. 2021; 13(24):10748-10764. PMID: 34132312.