# Development of peptoid-based barcodes for in vivo high-throughput screening of targeted nucleic acid delivery

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR · 2024 · $222,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
The proposed project aims to deliver a research tool that supports accurate and resource-
efficient biodistribution studies involving a library of gene-encapsulated nanoparticles. The
state-of-the-art technology to perform in vivo high-throughput screening of non-viral gene
delivery vectors is DNA/RNA barcoding, where oligonucleotides of unique sequence are used
as identifiable and quantifiable label for individual nanoparticles in a pooled mixture. However,
notwithstanding the exponentially growing number of novel gene-carrying nanoparticles,
researchers have not been equally attracted to in vivo high-throughput screening via this
barcoding technology. The long-term objective of our proposed study is to offer a broadly
accessible and therefore accepted tool for non-viral gene delivery research, by offering
several key innovative elements that address the shortcomings of the current method.
Specifically, our novel barcodes composed of deuterated peptoid, labelled Deuterated Oligo-
Peptoid Add-on as Nanoparticle Tracer (DOPANT), will demonstrate inert nanoparticle loading
process, biological stability, simplified extraction and purification protocols, as well as
affordable and sensitive detection method. To that end, the Emmitte group will synthesize
DOPANT barcodes, a library of 3-mer peptoids with varying molecular weights based on the
degree of deuteration and the choice of monomer, to be co-loaded with the genetic cargo into
nanoparticle formulations (Aim 1). The Kim group will then validate the DOPANT barcode-
labeled nanoparticles and their applications in a high-throughput biodistribution study. The
parameters in formulating a cocktail solution of multiple DOPANT-loaded nanoparticles will be
fine-tuned for optimal performance in biodistribution screening (Aim 2). Finally, DOPANT
barcode technology will be validated through a proof-of-principle, biodistribution study of 10
different mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles in healthy mice of two strains and both sexes (Aim
3). This collaborative project brings in the complementary expertise of two research groups to
develop a novel enabling tool that can advance and accelerate the path to clinical translation
for many existing and forthcoming nanoparticle designs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10952541
- **Project number:** 1R21EB036261-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Jayoung Kim
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $222,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-15 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10952541

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10952541, Development of peptoid-based barcodes for in vivo high-throughput screening of targeted nucleic acid delivery (1R21EB036261-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10952541. Licensed CC0.

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