Marina Dobrovolskaia | “Immunological properties of engineered nanomaterials and challenges in their preclinical characterization” | Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

Categories: Events, General Event

Event Date:
March 19, 2015 – 3:30 PM to March 20, 2015 – 4:59 PM

Location:
Burson 115

Event Date:
March 19, 2015 – 3:30 PM to March 20, 2015 – 4:59 PM

Location:
Burson 115

Ph.D Nanoscale Science
Seminar Series
Spring 2015


Marina Dobrovolskaia
Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

“Immunological properties of engineered nanomaterials and challenges in their preclinical characterization”

Abstract:

Nanomedicine is rapidly growing field. Many nanoformulations have been granted regulatory approval for use in medical applications, while many more are in various phases of preclinical and clinical development. This presentation will review data regarding nanoparticle-mediated immunological and hematological compatibility, which I will use to highlight common challenges in preclinical characterization of nanoparticles. Case studies demonstrating how manipulation of nanoparticle physicochemical properties can influence their interaction with components of the immune system will be discussed. The presentation will focus on areas such as effects on blood coagulation system, activation of complement and effects on immune cell function. I will discuss nuances and challenges associated with preclinical immunological characterization of engineered nanomaterials Specifically, I will focus on endotoxin detection and quantification, pyrogenicity testing nanoparticle depyrogenation, sterility and sterilization, nanoparticle interference with traditional immunological tests, and applicability of traditional in vivo immune function tests to engineered nanomaterials. I will also present case studies demonstrating the significance of comprehensive physicochemical characterization of engineered nanomaterials prior to their toxicological evaluation as well as correlation between toxicological in vitro assays and relevant in vivo tests.

Bio:

At the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) operated by Leidos Biomedical Research Inc. for the US National Cancer Institute, Dr. Dobrovolskaia directs characterization related to nanomaterials’ interactions with components of the immune system. She leads a team of scientists and technicians conducting preclinical studies to monitor acute/adverse effects of nanoparticles to the immune system both in vitro and in vivo using variety of immune function animal models. Dr. Dobrovolskaia’s team develops, validates and qualifies performance of in vitro and ex vivo assays to support preclinical characterization of nanoparticles, and to monitor nanoparticle purity from biological contaminants such as bacteria, yeast, mold and endotoxin. Her group contributed to characterization and evaluation of more than 300 nanotechnology products submitted to the NCL for preclinical characterization. Several of these products are now in human clinical trials. Dr. Dobrovolskaia is a member of several working groups on Nanomedicine, Oligonucleotide Safety and Endotoxin Detection. Prior to joining the NCL, Dr. Dobrovolskaia worked as a Research Scientist in a GLP laboratory at PPD Development, Inc. in Richmond, VA, where she was responsible for the design, development and validation of bioanalytical ligand-binding assays to support pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies in a variety of drug development projects. She received her M.S. degree from the Kazan State University in Russia, her Ph.D. from the N.N. Blokhin Cancer Research Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in Moscow, Russia, and completed two postdoctoral trainings in immunology at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, MD and the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD. Her areas of expertise include cell signaling, innate immunity, immunogenicity of drug products, analytical methodology, and endotoxin detection and quantification


Thursday, March 19, 2015 @ 3:30 PM in Burson 115
Coffee & soft drinks served at 3:15 PM