Recent publications

• The crystal structure of the herpes virus ICP8 protein in complex with single-stranded DNA reveals the molecular determinants of nucleotide recognition March 16, 2026
  The HSV-1 single-strand annealing protein ICP8 (UL29) is essential for viral DNA replication and recombination. Although its overall architecture has been described, the molecular basis of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) recognition was unknown. We report crystal structures of C-terminally truncated ICP8 (ICP8Δ60) bound to poly(dT)25 or poly(dA)25 ssDNA at 3.0-3.1 Å resolution, along with higher-resolution apo […]
  Heidi Erlandsen
• Impact of ionizable lipid source on quality and stability of siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles March 16, 2026
  The successful development of siRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) therapeutics depends heavily on the consistent quality of excipients, particularly the ionizable lipid MC3, which is commonly used in clinically approved products such as Onpattro. MC3 plays a key role in RNA encapsulation, endosomal escape, and biocompatibility. As regulatory frameworks evolve to support the development of generic siRNA-LNPs, […]
  Sheyda Ranjbar
• Continuous Electrospraying of Inhalable Biological Drug Products: Novel Formulation and Manufacturing Technology March 11, 2026
  CONCLUSION: The developed electrospraying-based continuous manufacturing platform demonstrates strong potential as a scalable and versatile approach for producing stable, biologic-loaded DPI formulations. Its ability to encapsulate sensitive proteins while preserving structural stability highlights its promise for future inhalable biologic delivery applications.
  Saeed Najafian
• Enhanced liver-targeted delivery with ribofuranose-based GalNAc conjugates March 11, 2026
  This study highlights that small geometric constraints with the GalNAc moiety can tune receptor engagement and serum stability. The ribofuranose ring is a 2'-O-methyl modification, used in the siRNA backbone to improve metabolic stability and reduce nuclease susceptibility.⁸ The constrained ribofuranose conformation introduced into GalNAc increased serum stability and hepatic parenchymal clearance, thereby increasing systemic […]
  Sai Pallavi Pradeep
• Impact of macrophages on the dissolution of LAI suspension prodrugs March 9, 2026
  Long-acting injectable (LAI) suspensions are often designed to provide sustained drug release by exploiting the low aqueous solubility of poorly soluble drugs or prodrugs. While particle size remains the foundational determinant of drug release from crystalline suspensions, emerging evidence indicates that physiological processes such as macrophage uptake and intracellular handling of particles, which themselves are […]
  Nilesh Malavia
• Advances in peptide nucleic acid for targeting RNA and genomic DNA February 20, 2026
  Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a synthetic mimic of DNA where the deoxyribose-phosphodiester backbone is replaced with N-(2-aminoethyl) glycine units. The lack of deoxyribose-phosphodiester bonds enhances enzymatic stability and improves binding affinity of PNA with complementary DNA and RNA strands. To enhance target binding, conformational stability, and pharmacological activity, several chemical modifications have been introduced […]
  Angana De
• Insights into development of long-acting injectable suspensions February 14, 2026
  Long acting injectable (LAI) suspensions represent a promising drug delivery platform, offering a number of advantages such as sustained therapeutic effects, improved patient adherence, and reduced dosing frequency for the management of chronic diseases. Moreover, these drug products are of pharmaceutical significance as they provide opportunities to extend the patent life cycle of a drug […]
  Nilesh Malavia
• Benzoic Acid Derivatives Improve Plasma Stability of Diester Butyrophilin Ligand Prodrugs February 12, 2026
  The potent butyrophilin ligand, (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl diphosphate (HMBPP), is a potential cancer immunotherapy agent, but it lacks plasma stability and membrane permeability. Aryl phosphonamidate prodrugs of a key HMBPP analog have improved plasma stability but poor cellular uptake, while aryl phosphonester prodrugs have improved uptake but lack plasma stability. Here, tuning the benzoic acid substructure of […]
  Parker A Kintigh
• Engineered miR-122 inhibitors preserve endothelial mitochondrial function and prevent vascular dysfunction in obesity-associated prediabetes February 3, 2026
  MicroRNA-122-5p (miR-122) is primarily expressed in the liver and is increasingly released into the bloodstream during obesity. It impacts the function of non-liver tissues, such as vascular endothelial cells, and increases the risk of diabetic vasculopathy. Using a gamma-peptide-nucleic acid-based miR-122 inhibitor (γP-122-I), we show that miR-122 regulates blood glucose levels and endothelial function in […]
  Ravinder Reddy Gaddam
• Controlled Cisplatin Delivery Using pH-Sensitive PAA-Grafted Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles February 2, 2026
  More than 70% of patients with ovarian cancer are diagnosed with metastasis, in which tumors spread to the peritoneal cavity. The current standards of care are intravenous (IV) or intraperitoneal (IP) injection of small-molecule anticancer drugs, such as cis-diamminedichloro platinum-(II) (cisplatin). Although IP injection enables delivery of higher drug concentrations to the tumor sites, the […]
  Raana Kashfi Sadabad
• Cell stress activates γ9δ2 T cells via endogenous phosphoantigens and butyrophilin complex dynamics January 23, 2026
  Phosphoantigens (pAgs) are phosphate-containing small molecules that elicit an immune response. The pAgs bind to the intracellular domain of butyrophilin 3 (BTN3), enabling interactions with other butyrophilins to form complexes that trigger the T cell receptor (TCR) of Vγ9Vδ2 (γ9δ2) T cells. Despite multiple reports on this process, the conditions that regulate pAg levels leading […]
  Yiming Jin
• Lipid Nanoparticle Development in Practice: Challenges and Collective Insights January 22, 2026
  Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as a versatile delivery platform for improving pharmacokinetic performance, protecting nucleic acid cargo, and enabling tissue- and cell-specific targeting. Continued advancement of LNP-based therapeutics requires a deeper understanding of how raw material quality, formulation parameters, nanoparticle architecture, and biological context collectively influence clinical performance. In this Perspective, we discuss key […]
  Xiuling Lu
• Cholesterol-dependent control of endosomal escape regulates intracellular trafficking of small interfering RNA therapeutics and interactions with small molecule drugs January 21, 2026
  Small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics are an emerging modality for treating genetic and metabolic diseases, with 8 approved drugs now in clinical use. Despite substantial advances in delivery technologies, including lipid nanoparticles and N-acetylgalactosamine conjugates, inefficient intracellular trafficking, particularly endosomal escape, remains a critical limitation. Here, we identify cellular cholesterol as a key regulator of […]
  Sherouk M Tawfik
• <em>In vitro, ex vivo</em>, and <em>in vivo</em> evaluation of ophthalmic ointments containing dexamethasone and tobramycin January 19, 2026
  This investigation compares in vitro release, ex vivo release and permeation, and in vivo ocular pharmacokinetics to render biologically informed evaluations of ophthalmic semi-solid drug products containing dexamethasone (hydrophobic) and tobramycin (hydrophilic). Both drugs were formulated with three petrolatum matrices (IGI® 320 A, IGI® 386, or Spectrum®) with distinct rheological character and benchmarked against the […]
  Catheleeya Mekjaruskul
• Combining anti-gene γPNA with small molecules and RNA inhibitors: A strategy to enhance anti-tumor efficacy January 15, 2026
  Targeting genomic DNA to silence oncogenes is a promising strategy for cancer therapy. Gamma peptide nucleic acid (γPNA) targeting c-Myc genomic DNA has shown established efficacy in vitro and in multiple preclinical models. In this study, we investigated a combination treatment by integrating γPNAs with direct or indirect c-Myc inhibitors to further enhance the anti-tumor […]
  Sai Pallavi Pradeep
• REV1 inhibition enhances trinucleotide repeat mutagenesis January 15, 2026
  Trinucleotide repeat instability has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous neurodegenerative disorders. While germline expansions destabilize trinucleotide repeats to cause disease anticipation, somatic cell trinucleotide repeat instability drives earlier onset of symptoms and further disease progression. However, the drivers behind these repeat length changes remain unclear. Current models suggest that DNA replication slippage events […]
  Ava Siegel
• Zileuton nanocrystals alter intestinal phase I/II metabolic enzymes and epithelial permeability in a sex-dependent manner January 13, 2026
  The bioavailability of a drug is influenced by its physicochemical properties, dissolution rate, solubility, gastrointestinal tract permeability, and its absorption, distribution, and metabolism. Zileuton, a poorly soluble biopharmaceutical classification system class II drug prescribed for the treatment of asthma, was selected as a candidate for nanocrystal drug formulation. Our previous study demonstrated that zileuton nanocrystal […]
  Sangeeta Khare
• Cocaine-Induced Changes in the BRD4 Interactome Identifies Casein Kinase 1 Epsilon as a Therapeutic Target January 12, 2026
  Recent research has revealed that BRD4, a bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) epigenetic "reader" protein, plays an essential role in regulating behavioral and molecular responses to cocaine. To date, the roles of BRD4 and other BET proteins in substance use disorder (SUD) models have been mainly studied using small molecule inhibitors that block the […]
  Afshin Seyednejad
• The Selective Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal Domain (BET) Inhibitor RVX-208 Reduces Cocaine-Seeking Behaviour and Alters Proteomic Pathways in the Nucleus Accumbens January 8, 2026
  Bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) epigenetic 'reader' proteins are key regulators of both behavioural and molecular responses to cocaine. In substance use disorder (SUD) models, BET function has primarily been investigated using small molecule inhibitors that prevent both bromodomains of BET proteins from interacting with acetylated histones. Although these inhibitors have been shown to […]
  Tyler J Sacko
• Deciphering the Role of DNA Polymerase Eta on the Incorporation and Bypass of Inosine and Cell Cycle Arrest December 30, 2025
  Inosine is a key intermediate in many cellular pathways, and our RT-qPCR data showed that DNA polymerase eta (polη) was upregulated upon the repeated treatment of inosine and inosine monophosphate (IMP) in HCT116 cells, which suggests that polη is actively involved in the incorporation and bypass of inosine in cells. To gain novel insight into […]
  Jackson C Lin