Marina Sokolsky, Ph.D.

Research Interests:

Sokolsky’s research interests focus on drug delivery, brain delivery, sustained release, polymeric micelles, exosomes, inorganic nanoparticles, surface engineering for selective cell targeting, and remotely actuated theranostic drug delivery systems.

Research Description

Sokolsky-Papkov’s current research centers on the design of nano-based sustained-release and remote-actuated drug delivery systems for treatment and diagnosis of cancer. Her research utilizes several nanoparticle-based technologies (polymeric micelles and nanoparticles, cell-derived exosomes and inorganic nanoparticles) and is focused on engineering treatment modalities for several related conditions: brain cancer, brain metastases, and diagnosis and treatment of postoperative residual disease.

Emphasis is placed on (1) designing drug-loaded nanoparticles which can effectively home to brain cancer in vivo and deliver tumor-specific payload to improve treatment efficacy; (2) utilizing sustained release and nanotechnology approaches to design delivery systems which can improve noninvasive diagnosis of primary metastatic spread, treat residual disease and promote post-operative wound healing; and (3) utilize intrinsic properties of inorganic nanoparticles to design theranostic delivery systems which combine remotely induced drug release and cell apoptosis.