Research Projects
2022 - Present
Evaluation of dendrimer nanoparticle charge on biodistribution and cellular uptake
Work under Dr. Fan Zhang culminating in co-authorship in the Journal of Controlled Release
Here, we focused on how the charge of polymeric nanoparticles impact their biodistribution on the organ and cellular levels using a transgenic mouse model expressing fluorophores for the CCR2 and CX3CR1 genes. This model allowed us to identify the myeloid-derived suppressor cell subset using flow cytometry and evaluate dendrimer uptake and blood-brain barrier effects using confocal microscopy.
My responsibilities in this project included assisting in data collection, sample processing and image analysis, analyzing and processing quantitative data, and optimizing flow cytometry workflows.
Littrell, C. A.; Takacs, G. P.; Sankara, C. S.; Sherman, A.; Rubach, K. A.; Garcia, J. S.; Bell, C. A.; Lnu, T.; Harrison, J. K.; Zhang, F. Systemically Targeting Monocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Using Dendrimers and Their Cell-Level Biodistribution Kinetics. Journal of Controlled Release 2024, 374, 181–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.08.003.
Graphical Abstract
Co-localization of amide-terminal dendrimers 24 hours post-injection in the brain of C57BL6 mouse model
Littrell, C. A.; Takacs, G. P.; Sankara, C. S.; Sherman, A.; Rubach, K. A.; Garcia, J. S.; Bell, C. A.; Lnu, T.; Harrison, J. K.; Zhang, F. Systemically Targeting Monocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Using Dendrimers and Their Cell-Level Biodistribution Kinetics. Journal of Controlled Release 2024, 374, 181–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.08.003.