About the Scientist
Training
| Degree: |
B.Sc. - Pharmacy |
| Institution: |
University of British Columbia |
| Year: |
2000 |
|
| Degree: |
B.Sc. - Chemistry |
| Institution: |
University of British Columbia |
| Year: |
1997 |
|
Current Position
| Position: |
Postdoctoral Fellow |
| Supervisor: |
Dr. Helen Burt |
|
|
Scholarships + Awards
| Name: |
CIHR Clinical Research Initiative - Doctoral Research Award |
| Year: |
2005 |
|
|
| Name: |
University Graduate Fellowship |
| Period: |
2001-2005 |
|
|
| Name: |
John H. McNeill Scholarship |
| Year: |
2004 |
|
|
About The Research
Investigation of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(caprolactone) diblock copolymer nanoparticulate drug delivery systems. Recently, there has been a focus on the development of ‘stealth’ nanoparticles composed of biodegradable polymers for the delivery of potent water insoluble drugs in hopes of targeting disease sites such as tumors and inflammation. Interestingly, nanoparticles are poorly understood in terms of the physicochemical parameters that influence their performance properties such as drug loading, release rate, stability, circulation time and biodistribution. My research will evaluate the correlations between the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles, as influenced by structural changes in their constituent polymers, and performance as drug delivery systems.
Publications + Presentations
| Selected Publications |
- Kevin Letchford, Jason Zastre, Richard Liggins and Helen Burt. (2004). Synthesis and Micellar Characterization of Short Block Length Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(caprolactone) Diblock Copolymers. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 35: 81-91.
- John K. Jackson, Janet Smith, Kevin Letchford, Kelly Anne Babiuk, Lindsay Machan, Pierre Signore, William Hunter and Helen M. Burt. (2004) Characterization of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Films Containing Paclitaxel. International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 283: 97-109.
- Kishor M. Wasan, Eugene Choo, Olena Sivak, Simon Wallis, Kevin Letchford, Helen M. Burt, David J. Stewart and Tatjana Lukic. (2004). Determining the Critical Micelle Concentration of a Novel Lipid-Lowering Agent, Disodium Ascorbyl Phytostanyl Phosphate (FM-VP4), Using a Fluorescence Depolarization Procedure. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy. 30: 725-730
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