# Regulation of epithelial function using targeted nanowires

> **NIH NIH R01** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $612,502

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The nasal cavity is a clinically accessible structure that is amenable to the topical application of nanoscale
particles to facilitate drug delivery and control local inflammation. The success of this approach requires
substrates with a high level of specificity and activity. We have designed and constructed derivatizable,
biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) nanowires that are conjugated to anti-β1 integrin antibodies. Anti-
integrin nanowires will be tested on cultured cell models, including well differentiated primary human lung and
nasal airway epithelial cells, for the ability to alter barrier function, stimulate transcytosis, and affect cell growth
and differentiation. Preliminary data supports our ability to develop anti-integrin nanowires with the capacity to
either increase or decrease tight junction permeability, depending on composition. Several complementary
approaches will be used to identify the mechanism of action for anti-integrin nanowires of different composition,
focusing primarily on their effects on cytoplasmic scaffold proteins associated with tight junctions and integrins
that regulate the actin cytoskeleton. This includes candidate and discovery based molecular methods to
identify nanowire-driven changes to the cytoplasmic scaffold proteome. Live cell and super resolution
microscopy will be used to measure the effects of anti-integrin nanowires on junctions and integrins in a native
context. One goal is to establish modes of stimulating apical integrins as a pharmacologically tractable
approach that can be preferentially switched to either improve respiratory epithelial barrier function or to
facilitate drug delivery across epithelial barriers. We also will test the effects of anti-integrin nanowires on
epithelia derived from nasal polyps, which have impaired tight junctions, are partially de-polarized, and lack
growth control. These in vitro studies will evaluate nanowires as a potential platform to treat chronic
rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, a chronic condition that significantly impairs quality of life and that is
frequently associated with lung disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10677028
- **Project number:** 5R01HL158979-02
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Tejal A. Desai
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $612,502
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-08-05 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10677028

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10677028, Regulation of epithelial function using targeted nanowires (5R01HL158979-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10677028. Licensed CC0.

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