ACS to Hold "Master Class" Oct. 14 for Science News Media

Three prominent scientists in the field of drug delivery technologies - Robert Langer of MIT, Nicholas Peppas of Purdue University and Patrick Couvreur, of the University of Paris South - will lead a group of experts in discussing cutting-edge developments at the American Chemical Society's ProSpectives Conference October 13-16 in Boston.

In conjunction with this conference, the ACS will hold a "master class" for journalists which will include presentations from Langer, Peppas and other scientists taking part in the drug delivery conference. The class is scheduled for Monday, October 14, and news media seeking further information can contact Charmayne Marsh at [email protected] or 202-872-4445.

The "Future Direction of Drug Delivery Technologies: Molecular Design, Cellular Response and Nanotechnology," will focus on gene delivery, cell delivery and growth, molecular design of improved biomacromolecular carriers, micro-imprinting and bionanotechnology.

"The ACS ProSpectives conferences are small, focused technical sessions for senior-level industry scientists seeking the latest information on subjects along chemistry's interdisciplinary frontier," explained John Katz, ACS ProSpectives program manager. Katz said the conferences are purposely kept small - no larger than 200 participants -to foster informal discussions among presenters and attendees.

Langer, widely-known for his pioneering work in human tissue engineering, is a leader in research to replace or repair damaged vocal chords and is associated with the Voice Restoration Subsequent to Vocal Fold Scarring project. Actress and singer Julie Andrews, whose vocal chords were damaged in an operation, has lent her presence to this effort. Langer is the Kenneth J. Germeshausen Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at MIT.

Peppas will speak on his work in the design of intelligent carriers for protein delivery and the use of polymers for medical imprinting and recognition. He has won awards for his pioneering work on diffusion in hydrogels and their applications in the domain of controlled drug delivery. His recent work includes breakthroughs in oral insulin drug delivery that would allow diabetics to take insulin in smaller doses, more frequently and without injection. He is the Showalter Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue.

Couvreur, a professor of pharmacy at the University of Paris South, France, is involved in the development of new drug carriers and delivery systems, especially biodegradable nanoparticles and liposomes. His areas of expertise also include applications in peptides and oligonucleotides delivery. Couvreur will speak about how pharmaceutical technology may improve the administration and tissular/cellular delivery of antisenses oligonucleotides.

More information about the ACS ProSpectives Conference series is available at http://www.acsprospectives.org.