The project aims to create encapsulated liposomes with molecules that attach to target enzymes expressed in plaques or cancerous tumours. Reaction with the enzyme will prompt release of the therapeutics to the target tissue.
Teams at the University of Delaware and North Dakota State University will use $586,715 (€441,500) of funding, issued by the National Science Foundation, for the project. Funding will be shared equally between the two universities.
The researchers are also investigating the use of liposomes in diagnostics.