Juntao Luo, PhD

Current Appointments

• Assistant Professor of Pharmacology

Hospital Campus

• Downtown

Education & Fellowships

• PhD: NanKai University, China, 2003, Polymer Chemistry and Physics
• BS: NanKai University, China, 1998, Chemistry

Previous Appointments

• University of California at Davis, 2008–2011

Languages Spoken (Other Than English)

• Chinese

Publications

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Research Abstract

A versatile nanocarrier for in vivo tumor-targeted drug delivery: We have developed a novel biocompatible amphiphilic linear-dendritic co-polymer (named telodendrimer), using biocompatible PEG and bio-sourced cholic acid and lysine as building blocks. It can self-assemble into micelles in aqueous solution for the encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs, such as paclitaxel (PTX) and doxorubicin (DOX) with superior drug loading capacity and stability, which is due to the unique facial amphiphilicity of cholic acid. The stepwise peptide chemistry allow for the modular design of telodendrimers and precise control of the density and sites of the functional group. The Multi-functionality feature of telodendrimers allows for the decoration of micelle nanoparticles with targeting molecules, imaging probes, and reactive functional groups for micelle crosslinking. This nanotherapeutic is able to target tumor in animal models effectively via both passive enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and active tumor targeting (via ligand decoration). As shown in our recent publications, PTX and DOX loaded in this nanocarrier have exhibited superior anticancer effects in animal models over their clinical formulations. We are currently working to optimize these telodendrimers for the loading of various hydrophobic anticancer drugs. In addition, our recent studies demonstrated that telodendrimers could also self-assemble into core-inversed micelles (CIMs) selectively in some apolar solvents. CIMs have a hydrophilic core for hydrophilic molecule encapsulation. CIMs can be crosslinked and easily extracted into aqueous solution with payloads encapsulated for intracellular delivery of hydrophilic drugs, such as small molecules, peptides and proteins. Furthermore, positively charged amines can be introduced into the adjacent sites of telodendrimer to form micelles with the segregated domains for the co-delivery of gene molecules and hydrophobic drugs for the combination cancer therapy.  

Selected Publications

1.     Wenwu Xiao, Juntao Luo*, Paul Henderson,Tessta Jain, John Wriggs, Harry Tseng, Kit S Lam*, The distribution profile of a polymer nanomicelle and loaded chemotherapy drug on mouse ovarian cancer xenograft model, International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2012, in press. (*corresponding author)

2.     Xiao, Kai; Li, Yuanpei; Lee, Joyce S.; Gonik, Abby M.; Dong, Tiffany; Fung, Gabriel; Sanchez, Eduardo; Xing, Li; Cheng, Holland R.; Luo, Juntao*; Lam, Kit S.* “OA02” Peptide Facilitates the Precise Targeting of Paclitaxel-Loaded Micellar Nanoparticles to Ovarian Cancer In Vivo, Cancer Research, 2012, in press. (*corresponding author)

3.     Li, Yuanpei; Xiao, Wenwu; Xiao, Kai; Lorenzo Berti; Luo, Juntao*; Harry P. Tseng; Gabriel Fung; Lam, Kit S.* Well-Defined, Reversible Boronate Crosslinked Nanocarriers for Targeted Drug Delivery in Response to pH and cis-Diols, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2012, 51(12), 2864-2869. (*corresponding author)

      …………This work was highlighted as the Most Important Paper (MIP) in the Inside Back Cover of the Week in Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2012, 51(12), 3027. This research was highlighted as a short news story in Therapeutic Delivery 2012, 3(3), 303-306…

4.     Zhang, Hongyong; Luo, Juntao;  Li, Yuanpei;  Henderson, Paul T.; Wang, Yanchun; Wachsmann-Hogiu, Sebastian; Zhao, Weixin; Lam, Kit S.; Pan, Chong-xian Characterization of high-affinity peptides and their feasibility for use in nanotherapeutics targeting leukemia stem cells, Nanomedicine, 2012, in press, doi:10.1016/j.nano.2011.12.004

5.     Lin, Tzu-yin; Zhang, Hongyong; Luo, Juntao; Li, Yuanpei; Gao, Tingjuan; White, Ralph de Vere; Lam, Kit S; Pan, Chong-Xian; Multifunctional Targeting Micelle Nanocarriers with both imaging and therapeutic potentials for bladder cancer, International Journal of Nanodmedicine, 2012, in press

6.     Xiao, Kai; Luo, Juntao*; Li, Yuanpei; Lee, Joyce S.; Gonik, Abby M.; Fung, Gabriel; Lam, Kit S.* PEG-oligocholic acid telodendrimer micelles for the targeted delivery of doxorubicin to B-cell lymphoma, Journal of Controlled Release, 2011, 155(2), 272-281. (*corresponding author)

7.     Li, Yuanpei; Xiao, Kai; Luo, Juntao*; Xiao, Wenwu; Lee, Joyce S.; Gonik, Abby M.; Kato, Jason; Dong, Tiffany; Lam, Kit S.* Well-defined, Reversible Disulfide Cross-linked Micelles for On-demand Paclitaxel Delivery, Biomaterials, 2011, 32(27), 6633-6645.(*corresponding author)

8.     Xiao, Kai; Li, Yuanpei; Luo, Juntao*; Xiao, Wenwu; Lee, Joyce S.; Gonik, Abby M.; Agarwal, Rinki; Lam, Kit S.* The effect of surface charge on in vivo biodistribution of PEG-oligocholic acid based micellar nanoparticles, Biomaterials, 2011, 32(13), 3435-3446. (*corresponding author)

9.     Xiao, Kai; Luo, Juntao*; Li, Yuanpei; Xiao, Wenwu; Lee, Joyce S.; Gonik, Abby M.; Lam, Kit S.* The passive targeting of polymeric micelles in various types and sizes of tumor models, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Letters, 2010, 2(2), 79-85. (*corresponding author)

10.  Luo, Juntao*; Xiao, Kai; Li, Yuanpei; Lee, Joyce; Shi, Lifang; Tan, Yih-Horng; Xing, Li; Cheng, Holland; Liu, Gang-yu; Lam, Kit S.*; A well-defined, size-tunable nanocarrier for efficient anti-cancer drug delivery, Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2010, 21(7), 1216–1224 (*corresponding author).

11.  Li, Yuanpei; Xiao, Kai; Luo, Juntao; Lee, Joyce; Pan, Shirong, Lam, Kit S. A novel size-tunable nanocarrier system for targeted anticancer drug delivery, Journal of Controlled Release, 2010, 144, 314-323.

12.  Xiao, Kai; Luo, Juntao*; Fowler, Wiley; Li, Yuanpei; Lee, Joyce; Xing, Li; Holland R. Cheng; Wang, Li; Lam, Kit S.* A novel self-assembling nanoparticle for paclitaxel delivery in ovarian cancer treatment, Biomaterials, 2009, 30 (30), 6006-6016. (*corresponding author)

Openings:

Position openings: Postdoctoral fellows; graduate research assistants; exchange students

Position Description: Multiple positions are available in the multi-disciplinary research programs in Nanomedicine, drug discovery, cancer treatment and tissue engineering, specifically in the areas of: (1) polymeric nanocarrier design and synthesis for drug/protein/gene delivery; (2) Bio-evaluation of nanotherapeutics in cellular level and in animal models; Attractive salary & benefits plus excellent research and living environment in Syracuse, NY. 

Qualification of candidates: Applicants with the strong background in polymer chemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical science, pharmacology/toxicology or biology are welcomed to apply. The specific experience in polymer design and synthesis, organic synthesis, drug/gene/protein delivery, PK/PD and toxicity evaluation of nanotherapeutics and cancer treatment experience in animal models are strongly encouraged to apply.