Biagio, Austen, Nina, Costa (BANC)
SILK RESPIRATORY THERAPEUTIC
Inhalable Silk-Based Preventive Drug Delivery System for Respiratory Diseases
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
The aim of this project is to create an inhalable silk-based preventive measure for the Novel Coronavirus 2019. This project combines the nuances of silk formulation and delivery, the role of recombinant ACE2 immunoglobulin receptor in COVID-19 spread, and the design aspect of the inhalation device for delivery of silk microspheres in the respiratory tract.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
This product creates an unique delivery method for respiratory disease prevention that is less invasive and more effective at administering drugs. The silk microspheres method is a novel drug system that allows for a controlled delivery process and significantly more biocompatible than other widely used methods.
OUR TEAM
We are a group of seniors at Tufts University studying Biomedical Engineering. Our junior year was moved online halfway through the spring semester due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, so we saw it only fit to have our project be related to something that has drastically changed our daily lives.
Looking at the photo on the right, we are: Nina, Costa, Austen, and Biagio, or as we are known in the lab, BANC. On the left, we are joined by our professor and chair of the department, David Kaplan.
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WHY SILK?
We chose to use silk as our drug delivery product because it is a novel angle, not used in many other places around the world. Silk is a very biocompatible product, and being in a program that is a pioneer in silk use, it only makes sense to try and create a product that uses silk. Also, the concept of using silk microspheres to administer drugs has a wide range of applications and is especially effective for most respiratory administration due to the biocompatibility of the silk. The components of silk also allows for a controlled delivery with a calculated released profile that will create a large therapeutic window.
WHY SARS-COV2 AS MODEL DISEASE?
We chose to use SARS-CoV2 as our model respiratory disease as the COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyone’s life dramatically and this product would allow for a preventative measure against the virus. Currently, there is no drug formulation for the prevention or treatment of SARS-CoV2. The only approved prevention method at the moment is the wearing of masks. There are some vaccines that have been emerging recently, but the invasive route of administration remains present. This product aims to administer drugs and vaccines non invasively and with self administration capabilities.