Events

Description:

The GOLDEN GATE POLYMER FORUM

July 21 Dinner Lecture
Michael's at Shoreline, Mountain View

"Polymers in Liposome Therapy"
Rom Eliaz
Discovery Laboratories, Inc.

Abstract:

Liposomes or (phospho)lipid vesicles are self-assembled colloidal particles
that occur in nature or can be prepared artificially. Originally, liposomes were
used to study biological membranes, while several practical applications,
most notably in drug delivery, emerged in the 1970s. It seems that drug delivery
applications are now the most widely investigated area of their practical applications.
As we enter the twenty-first century, research at the interface of polymer chemistry
and the biomedical sciences has given rise to the first nano-sized (5-100 nm)
polymer based pharmaceuticals, the "polymer therapeutic". Drug delivery systems
such as lipid- and/or polymer-based nanoparticles can be designed to improve the
pharmacological and therapeutic properties of drugs. Recently, polymers were
incorporated or attached to the surface of liposomes to provide better stability,
longer blood circulation or to provide targeting capabilities to the body-site of interest.
Because conventional liposomes are characterized by relatively poor stability in the
blood circulation, many research tried to prepare biologically stable liposomes.
After numerous trial-and -error experiments, it was finally realized that coating of
liposome with a steric shield of inert polymers can reduce adsorption of various blood
proteins and extend their circulation time. Nowadays, PEGylated liposomes, i.e.,
liposomes coated by polyethylene oxide chains, are almost exclusively used. These
liposomes are sometimes referred to as STEALTHÒ liposomes due to their ability
to avoid the defense or immune systems of the body. One of the major goals of
liposome medical applications was the targeting of specific cells by specific ligands
attached to the liposome surface. The development of PEGylated liposomes
renewed interest in specific targeting, because the polymer layer reduced nonspecific
interactions. It was quickly discovered that binding ligands to the far end of surface
attached PEG chains improve binding. In addition to antibodies and their fragments,
single-chain antibodies, lectins, oligosaccharides, and polypeptides are use as targeting
moieties when attached to PEG chains or directly to the lipid's membrane anchor.
In this talk the use of polymers in liposome therapy will be discussed with examples
of commercial products as well as products that are currently investigated in clinical
trials, in development or in research phase.

Speaker Background:

Dr. Eliaz is a Senior Scientist - Group Leader Pharmaceutical and Preclinical Development at
Discovery Laboratories, where he is responsible for the development of novel aerosol and pulmonary
drug delivery formulations and manufacturing. Prior to joining Discovery Laboratories, Dr. Eliaz was
a Research Engineer at Alza Corporation, where he focused on development of polymeric implants
and targeted liposomal systems for drug delivery. Previously, as an Academic Reserve in Israel, he
worked in the chemical industry as a Process Engineer and Project Manager. Dr. Eliaz has authored
over 40 publications on polymeric and biomaterial drug delivery systems, liposomal drug targeting,
gene delivery and tissue engineering, and has been issued four United States patents in the areas of
liposomal drug targeting, drug delivery and tissue engineering. Dr. Eliaz received his B.Sc degree in
Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering from Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Israel,
his M.Sc. (cum laude) and Ph.D. (cum laude) in Chemical Engineering from BGU and Weizmann
Institute of Sciences, and completed his postdoctoral work at U. C. San Francisco in the schools of
Medicine and Pharmacy. He also received an MBA (cum laude) degree from BGU in 1997.
Dr. Eliaz is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, American Society
for Gene Therapy, Controlled Release Society, and Israel Society for Polymers and Plastics. Some
of his professional activities and awards have included: Sixth International Tumor Necrosis Factor
Congress Outstanding Research Award; The Nagai Foundation Tokyo - Controlled Release
Society Graduate Student Award, and Post-doctoral Award; Rothschild Post-Doctoral
Fellowship Honorarium; Postdoctoral Fellowships from NIH; State of California Tobacco-Related
Disease Research Program Award and State of California Breast Cancer Research Program Award.

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PRACTICAL DETAILS

DATE: Wednesday, July 21

Location: Michael's at Shoreline
(see directions below)

Timing: 6 PM social hour
7 PM dinner
8 PM lecture

Cost: $30 with advance registration
half price students, retired, unemployed
free for just the lecture at 8PM
(but please let us know for headcount)
$35 after registration deadline

PLEASE NOTE: we accept cash or checks, but are unable to
accept payment by credit card at this time.

Deadline for registration:
4 PM Monday July 19

Please register on the web site
https://ggpf.mystagingwebsite.com/

Or, contact:

Nayan Ashar
ashars@sbcglobal.net
408-316-1619

You should receive confirmation of your registration; if not,
please contact us again.

PLEASE SPECIFY YOUR DINNER SELECTION, NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS,
AND AFFILIATION

Dinner choices (pick one when registering):
halibut
chicken Florentine
wild rice vegetable brochette

Note that we must request that you be liable for your
registration fee if you register and do not attend;
cancellation is allowed up to the registration deadline.

DIRECTIONS:

Restaurant's web page directions
http://www.michaelsatshoreline.com/location/index.html#directions

From 101 in Mountain View, take the Shoreline Boulevard
Exit, turning toward the bay. Drive past the Shoreline
Amphitheater and go straight ahead, entering into
Shoreline Park. After a mile or so inside the park,
a sign for Michael's will direct you to turn left into
the parking lot for Michael's.
Address: 2960 N Shoreline Blvd.
Restaurant phone: 650-962-1014
(do not call restaurant for reservations)