The research program of the Sinko group is interested in molecular biopharmaceutics and delivery systems discovery.

The group is organized into therapeutic areas focusing on AIDS, cancer, and chemical counter-terrorism. Current research is funded by grants from the NIH/NIAID (AIDS grant R37 AI51214, R01 AI084137), Brexys Inc. (breast cancer), and NIH/NIAMS (CounterACT grant U54 AR055073). Drug delivery at the molecular scale (i.e., nano) using biodegradable and biocompatible polymer platforms is a central theme of the group.

The scope of all current projects includes a molecular mechanistic component, chemical design and synthesis, and biological and efficacy characterization (in vitro, in situ, and in vivo) with an emphasis on translation from concept to the clinic.

Current Projects:

AIDS: (1) eradication of HIV disease (AI51214, PI = Sinko), (2) prevention of HIV transmission (AI084137, PI = Sinko)).

Cancer: (1) diagnosis, treatment, prevention of invasive breast cancer, (2) identification and treatment of micrometastases and (3) induction of apoptosis.

Chemical Counter-terrorism (AR055073): (1) spray-on/pour-on dermal delivery system for vesicant-induced wounds, (2) injectable aggregated nanogel particles for pulmonary delivery, and (3) PEG nanocarrier hydrogels for ocular delivery of MMP inhibitors.