Jerry Leung

PhD student studying biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of British Columbia

[NanoMedicines Innovation Network @NMIN_NCE]

NMIN researchers at #UBC publish on entrapment of #siRNA within #LNPs in Nanoscale @RoySocChem @jkulk_nano

https://t.co/9JfIey10b4

[Jayesh Kulkarni @jkulk_nano]

Check out our newest article on the mechanism of #LipidNanoparticle formation and a solvent-free method of encapsulating #siRNA,published in @nanoscale_rsc.
@ubclifesciences @CMMT_UBC @NMIN_NCE @UBCmedicine
https://t.co/FhU64fO6vl #PieterCullis #LNP #nanomedicine

[Jerry Leung @JerryL_NP]

@CBR_UBC Thank you @CBR_UBC!

[NanoMedicines Innovation Network @NMIN_NCE]

Thanks to everyone who made Vancouver #Nanomedicine Day 2020 a success! Check out how many attended & read about the NMIN HQP (in the pic below) who tied for best poster: https://t.co/y8aFvHjgHr

[Jerry Leung @JerryL_NP]

@NMIN_NCE @HDenroche Thank you!

[UBC Centre for Blood Research @CBR_UBC]

Blood clots are involved in many health issues like #strokes or #heartattacks.

We chatted with lead authors Dr. Christian Kastrup and PhD candidate Amy Wong Strilchuk about their recent study, and how their findings might help dissolve clots safely.

https://t.co/lSI29wPEVt

1/7

[Jerry Leung @JerryL_NP]

@ScienceVancity Thanks @ScienceVancity ! With the proof-of-concept carried out, I am looking to create platelets with different therapeutically-relevant functions, and currently those with improved clotting ability. Designing platelets to treat other diseases isn't far off the table though!

[Jerry Leung @JerryL_NP]

(1/5) Interested to learn about creating designer platelets?

Essentially we find:

1. Platelets can be directly engineered to potentially produce different proteins

2. By engineering platelets, platelet transfusions can be made more effective

#CBR_NBS2020 #CBR_TwitterShowcase

[Jerry Leung @JerryL_NP]

@CBR_UBC Thank you @CBR_UBC ! Currently I am not aware of any that are widely used as this time, and certainly none that are made directly from a pool of donor platelets that are also potentially transfusable.

[Jerry Leung @JerryL_NP]

@scicommleanna Thank you Leanna! Certainly, what I mean by payload is in general any macromolecule such as siRNA, mRNA, proteins, and peptides (which all can be packaged into lipid nanoparticles or liposomes and potentially delivered to platelets).

[Jerry Leung @JerryL_NP]

@theclotthickens Thanks Kellie! Rather than releasing the nanoparticles, the platelets instead might release the delivered cargo (e.g.: mRNA, protein) in microparticles upon activation. We haven't yet explored how different agonists might affect the cargo release but definitely plan to do so!

[Jerry Leung @JerryL_NP]

(5/5) By developing this further, platelets can be engineered with new and modified functions (e.g.: better clotting or even treating cancer) that currently transfused platelets do not possess for more effective platelet products and transfusions i.e.: designer platelets!

[Jerry Leung @JerryL_NP]

(4/5) As an example and proof-of-concept, platelets (outlined in red) were treated with lipid nanoparticles and made to produce a protein that emits green light (left image), compared to platelets that were untreated (right image).

[UBC Centre for Blood Research @CBR_UBC]

T-2 days until our Norman Bethune Symposium!

Watch out for our Twitter Research Showcase, launching tomorrow. Participants will share their research in 4 - 6 #scicomm tweets, on topics like gene therapy, "designer platelets", & more.

#CBR_ResearchShowcase #CBR_NBS2020

[Jerry Leung @JerryL_NP]

@CBR_UBC @CIHR_IRSC @ubclifesciences @UBCGradSchool @OverallLabNews @thehancocklab @ubcmsl @micbmoe Thank you for the recognition!