澳大新語 • 2023 UMAGAZINE 27 46 專題探討 • TOPIC INSIGHT 王瑞兵教授的研究團隊 Prof Wang Ruibing’s research team ability to target and clot injured blood vessels, Prof Wang’s team has used supramolecular interactions between cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), a type of macrocyclic molecule, and other compounds to modify platelets, turning them into ‘supramolecularly functionalised platelets’. In experiments with mice, the supramolecularly engineered platelets were found to greatly reduce the time and volume of bleeding compared to using normal platelets. Supramolecular chemistry is a fascinating field that studies non-covalent bonding between molecules, from electrostatic interactions to hydrophobic effects. Research results in the field have already been translated into many everyday products and have great potential for the future. ‘Continued research into supramolecular systems will enable the design of increasingly smart structures that serve even more biomedical applications,’ says Prof Wang. ‘Tiny supramolecules have the potential to solve big problems for humanity, not just through drug delivery, but by unlocking an endless stream of ideas and solutions.’ technology for smart drug delivery in recent years, and this new method of cancer drug delivery is just one example. Another focus of the team is to combat acute pneumonia by enhancing drug delivery to the inflammatory lungs. To achieve this, the team has developed a technique that enables drugs to hitch a ride on red blood cells through a supramolecular interaction between β-cyclodextrin anchored on the cells, and ferrocene anchored on the surface of nanomedicine. ‘Red blood cells are biocompatible and have a long circulation time in the body, which makes them ideal carriers for drugs that need sustainable delivery.’ says Prof Wang. The team has found that curcumin, when delivered in this way, provides an effective treatment for acute pneumonia in mice. Supramolecular technology also has the potential to control bleeding both inside and outside the body, which is a major threat to human life during surgery or after trauma. One way to tackle this issue is to inject plasma containing a lot of platelets, but they may not always reach the site of bleeding quickly. To enhance the platelets’
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