# A Novel Resolution Strategy on Chronic Inflammation and Impaired Healing of Wounds in Aging

> **NIH NIH R21** · LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER · 2020 · $381,265

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
We are applying for a 1-year supplemental award in response to NIH Notice NOT-AG-20-008 “AD/ADRD-
focused supplements for NIH grants that are not focused on AD/ADRD.” The goal of the parent project of this
supplement is to develop pro-resolving reparative maresin-like lipid mediators encapsulated in microparticles
(MarL-µPs) to resolve chronic inflammation and impaired healing of wounds in aging. The resolution of chronic
inflammation is pivotal for AD/ADRD treatment and appears to involve MarL actions. Thus, we propose in this
project to reduce the MarL-µP size to a nanoparticle range to create MarL encapsulated in nanoparticles
(nanoMarLs) that are able to sustain MarL delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into the brain. Our
immediate goal for this supplemental project is to develop our innovative nanoMarLs and to determine their
ability to prevent and ameliorate AD pathogenesis. The therapeutic potential of MarLs is currently limited
because MarLs are eliminated from the brain or blood in a few hours, whereas the prevention and amelioration
of AD progression are long-term processes. We have recently developed a MarL carrier that uses a novel
prototype of amino acid (arginine)-based poly(ester amide) protein-mimic (AA-PEA) nanoparticles that have
the potential to sustain MarL delivery across the BBB. AA-PEAs are a new generation of biomaterials that are
biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic. Our working hypothesis is that nanoMarL treatment will resolve
chronic systematic and brain-local inflammation, and may prevent or, at least, ameliorate AD pathogenesis.
Our Aim is as follows. 1A) We will further optimize the nanoMarLs using preparation methods similar to those
described for MarL-microparticles in the active parent award, except with a particle sizeat nano-scale for
delivery across the BBB of AD-model mice. 1B) We will determine the ability of nanoMarLs modulate AD
pathogenesis in AD-model mice. Overall Impact: This supplemental project will identify an innovative
nanoMarL-based strategy and therapeutic that may ameliorate AD pathogenesis by studying bioactions of
MarLs delivered and sustained by AA-PEA nanoparticles. The study is highly translational for the medical care
of AD/ADRD. The proposed work is within the scope of the active parent award that also studies MarLs
delivered and sustained by AA-PEA particles (although the parent award deals with microparticles and chronic
wounds). Thus, this proposal matches the 3 criteria set out in NOT-AG-20-008 for an AD-focused
supplemental grant. It only needs additional parallel studies for preparing and bio-assaying MarL encapsulated
in AA-PEA nanoparticles in AD-model mice, for which we already have expertise. This supplemental award will
allow us to conduct the research, publish novel results, and submit a R01 or U01 application that will further
develop our nanoMarL-based modality to treat AD/ADRD. Our team has synergistic expertise in reparative pro-
resolving lipid ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10131362
- **Project number:** 3R21AG066119-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Song Hong
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $381,265
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-12-15 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10131362

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10131362, A Novel Resolution Strategy on Chronic Inflammation and Impaired Healing of Wounds in Aging (3R21AG066119-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-14 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10131362. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*
