Recipient of the AAPS Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist Award, Nicholas A. Peppas’ contributions have been recognized across the globe.
By Mark Crawford
Nicholas A. Peppas, Sc.D., is the Cockrell Family Regents Chaired Professor in the departments of chemical, biomedical engineering, pediatrics, surgery, and pharmacy at the University of Texas-Austin and also directs its Institute of Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine.
Receiving the AAPS Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist Award
One of the most prestigious names in pharmaceutical science today, Peppas has spent more than 40 years designing biomedical systems and developing models of drug and protein diffusion in controlled-release devices and biological tissues. He is especially well known for his groundbreaking work on the dynamics, thermodynamic behavior, and molecular structure of polymeric networks and hydrogels, including mathematical models and equations for solute diffusion.
“His theoretical models and kinetic equations for the analysis of drug release and delivery from swellable and non-swellable carriers in controlled-release dosage forms have become a staple in the pharmaceutical literature,” states his friend and colleague Ping I. Lee, Ph.D., professor of pharmaceutics at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario. “For example, the ‘Peppas equation’ is used routinely to analyze release kinetics from pharmaceutical formulations, resulting in the design of a wide range of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms.”
With the assistance of the National Institutes of Health (which has continuously funded his work for the last 24 years), Peppas has developed a new generation of oral drug delivery systems for the treatment of diabetes, osteoporosis, and multiple sclerosis. The delivery system for diabetes, for example, protects the insulin throughout its transport in the stomach, upper small intestine, and eventually the bloodstream, eliminating the need for daily injections.
With UT Austin Biomedical Engineering Chair Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, Ph.D.
Other Peppas inventions include technologies for the rapid recognition of glucose, cholesterol, and angiotensin II levels, with the added capability of releasing therapeutic agents when needed to treat related health conditions.
These and other important discoveries have led to the establishment of three biotech start-up companies. His work with hydrogels, particularly poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels as a drug-delivery application, contributed to the development of the Geomatrix programmable tablet, which has been commercialized by several European pharmaceutical companies. Peppas is the author of more than 1,600 publications and numerous proceedings papers and abstracts, coauthor or coeditor of 37 books, and holds multiple U.S. patents.
His tireless efforts to advance pharmaceutical science earned him many awards. In 2012 Peppas received the Founders Award from the National Academy of Engineering, the highest recognition by the academy. He is a member of the Academy of France, Royal Academy of Spain, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2018 he was elected to the Chinese Academy of Engineering and received the Adam Yarmolinsky Award from the National Academy of Medicine.
Of his many accomplishments, Peppas is most proud of his academy memberships, “which allow me to represent the pharmaceutical field in these important organizations,” he says.
With Ph.D. student David Spencer
His unwavering commitment to share his expertise and forge relationships with scientific groups around the world does not surprise his good friend, Antonios G. Mikos, Ph.D., professor of bioengineering and chemical and biomolecular engineering at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and director of its Center for Excellence in Tissue Engineering. “Nicholas has an unbridled enthusiasm for pharmaceutical science and biomaterials research and continues to exceed expectations in his service to the international community,” says Mikos.
Multidisciplinary Leadership
Peppas believes deeply in a multidisciplinary approach to pharmaceutical research.
“The ability to integrate chemistry, physics, biology, and math is essential for solving important problems in the pharmaceutical and medical fields,” he says. “The major developments in pharmaceutical products by ALZA Corporation in the 1970s allowed my generation of engineers to delve into important pharmaceutical problems and contribute with new formulations.”
Peppas has pursued research that blends bionanotechnology, biomolecular engineering, and molecular and cellular biology with engineering principles to generate next-generation systems, including bio microelectromechanical systems,that provide enhanced applicability, reliability, functionality, and longevity.
With daughter Katia
As evidence of his commitment to multidisciplinary collaboration, Peppas is also a member of the National Academy of Inventors; Academy of Athens; Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas; and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS). He served as president of International Union of Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering from 2008 to 2016. His active leadership roles (including mentoring and teaching) in the international pharmaceutical and materials research communities have led to long-term personal and professional relationships.
Peppas has been a member of AAPS for 32 years. He was elected an AAPS Fellow in 1990 and has organized many meetings, advised multiple communities, and served as consulting editor on a variety of projects. In 2018, he received AAPS’ most prestigious award: Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist. You can watch Peppas’ acceptance speech.
“As a founding member of AAPS, I was part of the memorable 1985 meeting in Minneapolis where our long debate led to the formation of the association,” says Peppas. “AAPS has allowed pharmaceutical scientists like me, with an engineering background, to thrive and contribute, and present papers and research, for which I am grateful.”
Future Work
Peppas’ current research focuses on protein drug delivery, recognitive systems for diagnosis and delivery of therapeutic agents, and regenerative medicine or tissue engineering. This work includes improving a delivery system he developed for siRNAs, microRNAs, and therapeutic proteins. Such systems will be valuable in treating Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and potentially even celiac disease. Peppas is also working with Iowa State University to improve oral vaccine systems.
Ultimately, what matters most for Peppas is the individual. “My research contributions for diabetes and autoimmune diseases have been inspired by the suffering of patients and our need to provide better solutions to their present treatment methods,” he notes.
“Peppas stands as a true pioneer in the development of the principles of polymeric materials,” says Mikos. “The deep and lasting impact of his interdisciplinary work in the fields of pharmaceutical science and biomaterials has garnered the respect of the international scientific community.”
Mark Crawford is a science and technology freelance writer based in Madison, Wis.