Julie Rytlewski, B.S.
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow
Office: BME 5.412
j.rytlewski@mail.utexas.edu

Research Focus: Plasma-modified microparticles for the delivery of protein vaccines and immune modulation

My research focuses on the development of a novel protein vaccine whereby protein antigens are stabilized on the surface of plasma-modified PLGA microparticles. The idea is for these stabilized proteins to remain viable long enough for the immune system to generate an effective response and provide long-term immunity to disease. By coating the particles in plasma, we are able to alter the surface charge and promote protein adhesion; additionally, this side-steps any protein viability loss that may result for more traditional solvent-based approaches in particle fabrication and modification.