The University of Texas at Austin
College of Engineering
BME Faculty
Dr. Lisa Brannon-Peppas

Lisa Brannon-Peppas, Ph.D.
Research Professor

Curriculum Vitae

peppas@mail.utexas.edu

Lab Website

 Office Hours: Monday 9:30-10:30 Wednesday 1-2

Research Focus

Controlled and targeted drug delivery, cancer therapy, biomaterials, finding ways to expand the utility of biodegradable microparticles and nanoparticles to more effectively treat and prevent disease.

Research Interests

    Biomaterials
    Controlled Drug Delivery
    Drug Targeting
    Biodegradable Materials
    Structure-Property Relationships of Polymers
    Biomedical Engineering
    In vitro/In vivo Correlations
    Mass Transfer in Polymer Systems
    Membranes for Bioseparations

Targeted Delivery of Nanoparticulate Drug Delivery Systems
Our laboratory is studying methods which will allow targeting of biodegradable nanoparticles to specific sites or tissues of interest. These nanoparticles can contain a wide variety of drugs to be delivered, and there is no requirement that the targeting moiety in the drug delivery system be chemically bonded or in any other way attached to the drug to be delivered. Our current research projects include targeted drug delivery to the vascular system, breast cancer cells and bone for treatment of disease and imaging.

Novel Modification Technique for Biodegradable Microparticles which will Increase their Suspendability
Biodegradable microparticles are being studied extensively in industry and academia as a means to deliver a wide variety of drugs in a controlled manner. The art in the field has advanced to a stage where desired release profiles can often be achieved by judicious choice of biodegradable polymer, particle size, and drug loading. These release profiles may last from weeks to years, depending upon the materials and parameters used. We are investing methods with which biodegradable microparticles containing drugs can be surface modified so that they can be suspended in aqueous media for long periods of time. With microparticles that remain suspended easily in saline, researchers worldwide may proceed more quickly with development and testing of their biodegradable microparticle formulations.

Biodegradable Films for Controlled Drug Delivery and Increased Wound Healing
Generally, conventional wound treatment includes thorough cleaning of the wound and administration of systemic antibiotics. There are no formulations which speed the healing from directly inside the wound, which is where the healing actually begins. Our laboratory is developing and studying internal wound dressing which can provide the most efficient and desirable delivery of the most appropriate drugs directly to the wound, without the uncertainties of patient compliance or external factors which can undermine the utility of external wound dressings under current practices. Applications of these films include but are not limited to:

  • Vascular wraps after heart surgery to encourage desirable healing patterns and to decrease excessive smooth muscle cell growth, as can happen after artery wall injury
  • Wrapping of serious bone fractures that require surgery to increase bone regrowth
  • Regrowth of bone as needed for orthopedic prosthesis
  • Delivery of a cascade of drugs, as necessary for optimal healing and
  • Lining of tissues with anti-tumor agents after tumor removal.

Selected Publications

  • L. Brannon-Peppas, "Polymers in Controlled Drug Delivery," Medical Plastics and Biomaterials, 4, 34-44 (1997). Invited paper

  • E. Mathiowitz, M.R. Kreitz and L. Brannon-Peppas, "Microencapsulation", in: Encyclopedia of Controlled Drug Delivery, E. Mathiowitz, ed., pp. 493-546 (1999).

  • J.D. Kosmala, D.B.Henthorn and L. Brannon-Peppas, "Preparation of interpenetrating networks of gelatin and dextran as degradable biomaterials", Biomaterials, 21, 2019-2023 (2000).

  • L. Brannon-Peppas and M. Vert, "Polylactic and Polyglycolic Acids as Drug Delivery Carriers", in: Handbook of Pharmaceutical Controlled Release Technology, D. Wise, L. Brannon-Peppas, A.M. Klibanov, R. Langer, A.G. Mikos, N.A. Peppas, D.J. Trantolo, M.J. Yaszemski and G.E. Wnek, eds., pp. 99-130 (2000).

  • D. T. Birnbaum, J. D. Kosmala, D. B. Henthorn, and L. Brannon-Peppas, "Controlled Release of ß-Estradiol from PLGA Microparticles: The Effect of Organic Phase Solvent on Encapsulation and Release", Journal of Controlled Release, 65, 375-387 (2000).

  • D.T. Birnbaum, J.D. Kosmala and L. Brannon-Peppas, "Optimization of preparation techniques for poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles", Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2(2), 173-181 (2000).

  • D.T. Birnbaum and L. Brannon-Peppas, "Delivery of Anti-Cancer Agents from Biodegradable Nanoparticle", Polymer News, 27, 13-15 (2002).

  • D.T. Birnbaum and L. Brannon-Peppas, "Molecular Weight Distribution Changes During Degradation and Release of PLGA Nanoparticles Containing Epirubicin HCl", J. Biomater. Sci., Polym. Edn., 14(1), 87-102 (2003).

  • D.T. Birnbaum and L. Brannon-Peppas, Microparticle Drug Delivery Systems , in: Drug Delivery Systems in Cancer Therapy , D.M. Brown, ed., pp. 117-135 (2003), Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. (PDF)

  • L. Brannon-Peppas and J. O. Blanchette, Nanoparticle and Targeted Systems for Cancer Therapy , Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 56,
    1649-1659 (2004). (PDF)

  • L. Brannon-Peppas, K. Soehl, M. D. Monaco, J. Garlich, M. Patterson, and T. C. Smith, Nanoparticles for Delivery of Pifthrins to Combat Cell Death due to Chemotherapy and Radiation , Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 14(4) 257-264 (2004). (PDF)