Expanding the Future of Drug Delivery: Material Science Journey from Platform Development to Patient Impact

Modern drug delivery systems sit at the intersection of materials science, engineering, pharmaceutical development, and clinical need. This seminar will provide graduate students with an industry perspective on how advanced polymer-based drug delivery platforms are developed, commercialized, and expanded to address evolving therapeutic challenges.

Using Celanese's VitalDose™ technology as a case study, the presentation will explore how ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) materials have been successfully utilized in long-acting women's health applications involving small molecule therapeutics. The discussion will then examine how the same foundational materials science principles have enabled expansion into new therapeutic areas, including oncology and ophthalmology, while also supporting the delivery of increasingly complex modalities such as peptides, antibodies, and antisense oligonucleotides.

The seminar will also provide insight into the development of an entirely new drug delivery platform based on polyorthoester (POE) technology. Attendees will gain an understanding of the scientific, technical, and commercial considerations involved in creating a platform from the ground up, including material selection, performance requirements, manufacturability, regulatory considerations, and market needs. Comparisons between working with an established platform and advancing a novel technology will highlight the unique opportunities and challenges faced by scientists and engineers in the pharmaceutical industry.

Through real-world examples, students will gain a broader appreciation for how materials science can directly impact patient outcomes and learn about the diverse career paths available at the interface of biomaterials, drug delivery, and pharmaceutical innovation.