91�鶹��-involved nanobiotechnology consortium enhancing Mississippi’s healthcare

STARKVILLE, Miss.—91�鶹�� staff and faculty are part of a statewide team tasked with enhancing nanobiotechnology and positioning the Magnolia State as a healthcare hub.

The Mississippi Nano-bio and Immuno-Engineering Consortium, which includes researchers from 91�鶹�� and five other Magnolia State universities, was created to enhance research and solve healthcare issues through nanobiotechnology with a $7 million grant from the National Science Foundation. As a part of this consortium, 91�鶹�� is receiving $1.53 million of the grant for its portion of the work.

Nanobiotechnology involves the study of materials at the atomic and molecular levels for applications in the healthcare field to improve treatment for illnesses and the efficacy of drug delivery.

Portrait of Nick Fitzkee — Nick Fitzkee (Photo by Megan Bean)

91�鶹�� Professor of Chemistry Nicholas Fitzkee is the principal investigator of 91�鶹��’s research funding. Fitzkee said the project’s goal is to create “next-generation materials” for innovative healthcare solutions.

“The NIEC will develop new materials, test their interaction with biological systems, and evaluate their effectiveness in treating diseases to address health disparities in Mississippi,” he said. “Nanotechnologies are increasingly being developed to treat cancers and for detection, but a significant problem arises for these materials—we have a hard time delivering them to their intended target. For example, we might design a particle to treat a biofilm on a medical device, but we have trouble making sure the nanoparticles attach to the infection site, especially if the infection is hard to access, like on a medical implant.”

91�鶹�� researchers are optimizing biomaterial coatings and minimizing the interaction with the body’s own immune system. These interactions can reduce the efficacy of the nanoparticles and engineered materials.

To kick off the project, researchers have identified three primary goals—to gain a better understanding of protein interactions with nanoparticles to help steer medication to specific areas of the body; improve nucleic acid delivery to eliminate side effects of certain vaccines and medications; and facilitate healing and reduce the risk of infections in tissue regeneration.

Portrait of Katie Echols — Katherine Echols

Portrait of Steven Gwaltney — Steven Gwaltney

The 91�鶹�� team includes Katherine Echols, executive director of research initiatives and innovation at 91�鶹��’s Office of Research and Economic Development; Steven Gwaltney, a professor in 91�鶹��’s Department of Chemistry; and Lauren Priddy, an associate professor in 91�鶹��’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

The University of Mississippi is spearheading the consortium, which includes faculty from 91�鶹��, Jackson State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Alcorn State University and Tougaloo College. The consortium also offers research opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students and is open for additional researchers to join the team.

Funding is supported by the NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research’s Research Incubators for STEM Excellence Research Infrastructure Improvement (EPSCoR RISE RII) grant No. 2414442.

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