Data Management Schema Design for Effective Nanoparticle Formulation for Neurotherapeutics

AIChE J. 2021 Dec;67(12):e17459. doi: 10.1002/aic.17459. Epub 2021 Sep 22.

Abstract

Translation of nanotherapeutics from preclinical research to clinical application is difficult due to the complex and dynamic interaction space between the nanotherapeutic and the brain environment. To improve translation, increased insight into nanoformulation-brain interactions in preclinical research is necessary. We developed a nanoformulation-brain database and wrote queries to connect the complex physical, chemical, and biological features of neurotherapeutics based on experimental data. We queried the database to select nanoformulations based on specific physical characteristics that enable effective penetration within the brain, including size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential. Additionally, we demonstrate the ability to query the database to return select nanoformulation characteristics, including nanoformulation methodology or methodological variables such as surfactant, polymer, drug loading, and sonication times. Finally, we show the capacity of our database to produce correlations relating nanoparticle formulation parameters to biological outcomes, including nanotherapeutic impact on cell viability in cultured brain slices.

Keywords: Biochemicals; Bioengineering; Biofuels; Biomolecular Engineering; Food; database; nanoformulation; neurotherapeutics; polymer; query.