Bespoke biomaterials for controlled drug delivery

Hydrogels are gelatinous materials that have become increasingly used to deliver protein-based drugs that cannot be taken orally and are broken down by the blood quickly. I have designed two different hydrogels to deliver protein-based drugs at tailored rates for the treatment of kidney disease and stroke. The first relies on enzymes present in the body to release drugs attached to the hydrogel. The second is negatively charged to slow the release of positively charged drugs within the hydrogel. Both have proven effective in reducing the severity of these diseases in mouse models.