Two of the speakers presented research on the use of nanoparticles for delivery of mRNA to the lung, with Raneem Aldaqqa of Virginia Commonwealth University presenting a poster titled “Designing mRNA Lipid Nanoparticles for Tumor Associated Macrophages: Towards Immunotherapies for the Treatment of Osteosarcoma Lung Metastases” during the Posters on the Podium session and Laura Rotolo of Emory University describing her work on creating polymeric nanoparticles from poly-beta-amino thio-esters (PBATEs), which she said can be tailored to specific formulation and delivery needs; are more stable and can carry longer DNA than lipid nanoparticles; and are more easily able to enter cells.
Awards
Both of the major awards presented at RDD 2024 acknowledged work on inhaled delivery of proteins.
During the presentation of the 2024 Charles G. Thiel Award for Outstanding Research and Discovery in Respiratory Drug Delivery to John Patton, presenter Mike Hindle noted that Patton has been called “The father of inhaled protein delivery.” As the founder of Inhale (Nektar)Therapeutics, Dance Biopharm (now Aerami Therapeutics), InCarda Therapeutics, and iPharma, Patton pioneered respiratory delivery of insulin and other proteins.
Accepting the award, Patton credited dozens of people by name for their contributions to his work, including his father, who was an innovator in spray drying milk; Bob Platz, who he credits with inventing spray drying for inhalation, and 2020 Charles G. Thiel Award Winner Jeff Weers, who developed PulmoSphere spray dried low density porous particle technology.
The other major award also recognized the importance of spray drying proteins. Kinnari Arte of Purdue University was named the winner of the 2024 VCU RDD Peter R. Byron Graduate Student Award for her poster was titled, “Impact of L-leucine on Stability and Aerosol Performance of Dry Powder Protein Formulations.”
