Jazmin Aguilar-Romero

Profile Photo
Jazmin Aguilar-Romero
Previous degree(s)
BA, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University
PhD start year
2018
Award Year
2018
Department/Unit
Chemistry
Research Advisor(s)
Steve Zimmerman
Description of Research

Polymeric nanoparticle drug delivery systems have tremendous potential for controlled release of therapeutic agents to targeted cells. However, degradation of commonly used polyester-based delivery systems is very slow and unresponsive to the range of physiological conditions found within cells and tissues.The goal of my research is to synthesize a nanoparticle that that is sensitive to the lower pH values observed in endosomes and among certain tissues; in an acidic environment, the nanoparticle would undergo amplified chain-shattering degradation. These features would promote endosomal release as well as enable targeting of acidic cancer tissues.

Email
jazmin2@illinois.edu
Research Area
Polymer Drug Delivery