Poster #069
Optimizing synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles for cardiac regeneration
Mentors: Allison Sander (Grad Student), Karla Rodriguez Pequeno (Grad Student); PI: Huinan Liu, PhD
Heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, with many patients suffering irreversible damage after myocardial infarction due to poor vascularization and minimal cardiomyocyte regeneration. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis and tissue repair but is unstable in vivo and degrades rapidly, limiting its effectiveness. Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have been studied as delivery vehicles for biomolecules due to their tunable surface properties. In this project, IONPs were synthesized and surface-modified with citric acid to improve general biocompatibility. Future work could investigate loading VEGF onto these nanoparticles and embedding them into a poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) matrix to create a composite for controlled degradation and release. Additional studies could optimize VEGF loading and release kinetics and evaluate cytocompatibility. This system may ultimately serve as a platform for biomaterial-based therapies to enhance cardiac repair through sustained delivery of bioactive proteins.