BIO

I am a hard-of-hearing individual from New Orleans, LA who found their passion for research in middle school. I knew that I wanted to conduct research in college the moment I participated in my first science fair. From then, things only progressed. I now work in the Biomedical Sciences Department at FSU's College of Medicine. Our lab specializes in keloid and skin cancer research.

Testing Novel Biopolymer Adhesives for Drug Delivery in the Treatment of Skin Disorders

Abstract

Keloids are non-cancerous fibroproliferative skin tumors that form due to aberrant wound healing. They are caused by excess collagen production and overproliferation of fibroblasts. Treatments include topical corticosteroids and a variety of other drugs used empirically to block keloid growth, although these show highly variable efficacy and high recurrence rates. Additionally, patient compliance with the long-term application of drugs remains a big challenge in the treatment of many skin conditions. In collaboration with the FSU College of Engineering, we are testing novel biopolymer adhesives for drug delivery through the skin. Here, we have tested the polymer neutral poly-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (neutral AMPS) for the topical application of drugs to treat keloids and other skin diseases. In my research, I studied the effect of the biopolymer with and without the drug sodium valproate on human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) in culture to determine their effect on healthy skin cells. My preliminary results show that the polymer can release the drug but the polymer itself results in some cytotoxicity. However, since human skin has layers of dead cells protecting the underlying live cells, it is possible that this biopolymer maybe safe to use in low concentrations for drug delivery through human skin.

Keywords: biology, chemistry, cancer