About Us

Our research team is dedicated to developing innovative therapies for cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death worldwide.

Our mission is to create smart, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems that precisely target harmful inflammation in cardiovascular disease, protecting the heart and blood vessels while promoting healing.

We develop advanced nanocarriers that selectively home in on diseased tissues and leverage biomimetic strategies inspired by nature — such as coating nanoparticles with macrophage membranes. This approach ensures targeted delivery, enhances drug stability, minimizes side effects, and maximizes therapeutic effectiveness.

Safety and efficacy are at the core of our work. Every new nanomaterial undergoes rigorous testing and validation to ensure it can safely advance toward future clinical applications.

Our vision: to harness the power of nanomedicine to create healthier hearts and blood vessels for patients worldwide.

Our group focuses on nanomedicine-driven strategies to combat cardiovascular disease, with a particular emphasis on the chronic inflammatory processes underlying atherosclerosis and fibrotic remodeling of the heart. We combine fundamental biology with advanced nanotechnology to design therapies that are both precise and effective.

Key research directions include:

• Biomimetic nanocarriers of pro-resolving mediators. Inspired by natural resolution pathways, we engineer carriers, such as macrophage membrane-coated lipid nanoemulsions, to deliver specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) directly to atherosclerotic plaques and the heart after myocardial infarction. We envisage that these systems will enhance drug stability, reduce leukocyte–endothelium interactions, and actively promote immune resolution.
• Nanotherapeutic strategies for cardiac fibrosis. We investigate the mechanisms of fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition and develop nanoparticle-based interventions to halt or reverse this process, to preserve cardiac function.
• Targeted nanotherapies for vascular inflammation. Our nanocarriers are designed to bind selectively to cell adhesion molecules overexpressed on activated endothelium and to extracellular matrix proteins. This enables site-specific delivery of small pharmaceutical agents, siRNA, or shRNA, reducing systemic exposure and maximizing therapeutic impact.
• Safety and efficacy of nanoparticles. We rigorously evaluate the cytotoxicity and cellular responses of novel nanoparticles in human cells, ensuring that each platform we create is safe and ready for clinical application.
• Preclinical studies. To bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and clinical application, we perform comprehensive preclinical studies in relevant animal models of cardiovascular disease. These studies assess biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic efficacy, and safety of our nanomedicine platforms, providing essential data for future translational and clinical development.