H. Cui
The Johns Hopkins University,
United States
Keywords: long-acting therapy, prodrug design, supramolecular therapeutics, controlled release
Summary:
Advances in molecular design are transforming the way medicines are built, delivered, and sustained in the body. This lecture will highlight recent progress in developing self-assembling therapeutics that integrate the precision of prodrug design with the structural versatility of supramolecular chemistry. By engineering peptides and small molecules that spontaneously organize into well-defined nanostructures or injectable hydrogels, we can create carrier-free systems capable of long-acting and controlled release. These molecular assemblies blur the traditional boundaries between drugs and delivery vehicles, enabling new opportunities for extended treatment of chronic diseases. I will discuss key design principles, kinetic and thermodynamic factors that govern self-assembly, and how these insights are guiding new platforms for long-acting injectables and cancer immunotherapy.