Faculty Profile
Seongbong Jo
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery
Phone Number: (662)915-5166
Email: seongjo@olemiss.edu
http://www.pharmacy.olemiss.edu/pharmaceutics/jo/
Key Words: biodegradable polymers, drug delivery, smart synthetic materials, nanoparticles
Research Description: Rapid advance in biotechnology in conjunction with fast progress in material sciences has continuously promoted the development of novel therapeutic paradigms. With the efforts, various entities derived from living systems (such as peptides, proteins, nucleic acid-based macromolecules and cells) are available for therapeutic interventions that could not be achieved by traditional small molecule-based therapeutics. However, the novel potential therapeutics need customized delivery systems because of their unique physical, chemical and biological properties. Dr. Jo's research interests lie on drug delivery systems based on customized polymeric materials and biomimetic nanomaterials that enable effective formulation of the sensitive molecules as well as intelligent delivery of therapeutic molecules in response to the signals stemming from diseased tissues. His group is currently conducting research projects related to 1) injectable hydrogel drug delivery systems based on biomimetic thermosensitive polymers for delivery of small anticancer drugs, genes, peptides and proteins and 2) nano-drug delivery systems based on self-assembling biomimetic synthetic molecules.
Honors Theses:
Weeks, Matthew (2020) Fluorometric Characterization of a Methylene Blue Derivative Sensitive to Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) (full text)
Portera, Mary Virginia (2016) Redox-sensitive Block Copolymer Nanoparticle Preparation and Characterization. (full text)
Available Research Projects:
Redox-responsive polymer nanoparticles for tumor-targeted drug delivery
Project Description: Novel polymers will be synthesized, characterized, and processed to be nanoparticles. Cancer drugs will be incorporated into nanoparticles. In vitro drug release will be tested.?
Desired Student Qualifications: organic chemistry (and/or polymer chemistry) background will be helpful. Biology or biochemistry background will also be helpful.
Project Timeline: It is two semester project (one year). Students should expect to spend at least 3-4 hr/week.
Duties of Student Researcher: The person will run basic lab things (solution preparation, setting up reactions). The person also will be involved in polymer synthesis, nanoparticle preparation, and drug release study. A graduate RA will guide the person in the lab.
Last Updated on 2012-10-12 00:00:00