Ryan Wylie, Ph.D.
Abstract
Our work centers around the use of polymeric materials for local delivery applications including the improved storage and administration of therapeutic cells as well as the delivery of polymer-protein conjugates. To address these challenges, we are developing injectable platforms and leveraging high-through put polymer synthesis to accelerate the discovery of materials for local therapies. A key barrier to the clinical use of local cell therapies is the need for reliable storage, transportation, and administration methods that preserve cell viability and activity. To address this, we are investigating self-assembling, shear-thinning peptide hydrogels for the hypothermic (~15 C) storage of therapeutic cells, eliminating the need for cryopreservatives and clinical site processing steps. We have demonstrated that Fmoc-peptide hydrogels incorporating bioactive sequences can greatly improve the viability of retinal pigment epithelium cells in minimal media under hypothermic storage, providing a potential material for their transport from the manufacturing to clinical site. In parallel, to accelerate biomaterial discovery for local therapies more broadly, we are leveraging the oxygen tolerance and mild conditions of Photoinduced Electron/Energy Transfer–Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (PET-RAFT) polymerization in combination with multiwell biological screening platforms. PET-RAFT's compatibility with multiwell plate formats enables the rapid generation of diverse functional polymer libraries, including antimicrobial and mucoadhesive polymers for ocular delivery and micelle architectures for drug delivery. Complementing this synthetic capability, we have developed high-throughput multiwell tissue models that incorporate clearance mechanisms to simulate physiological washout, providing a more accurate assessment of a delivery vehicle's duration of action in both tumor and ocular mimic models. Together, the integration of rapid polymer synthesis with physiologically relevant screening provides a framework for the expedited development and translation of next-generation biomaterials for localized disease treatment.
When: March 20, 2026
Where: North Classroom 1535
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00pm