Publications
Nanoscale biodegradable printing for designed tuneability of vaccine delivery kinetics
DJ Peeler*, R Sun*, C Kutahya, P Peschke, K Zhou, G Brachi, J Yeow, O Rifaie-Graham, JP Wojciechowski, T Fernandez-Debets, V LaLone, X Song, K Polra, PF McKay, JS Tregoning, RJ Shattock, MM Stevens (2024) submitted; pre-print @ bioRxiv
We introduce a novel family of PLGA-based resins for two-photon polymerization 3D printing, Spatiotemporal Controlled Release Inks of Biocompatible polyEsters (SCRIBE), and show how precise, top-down microparticle engineering can tune immune responses to encapsulated vaccines.
Polyanion chemistry engineers saRNA nanoparticle structure and function from the inside-out
L Hu*, DJ Peeler*, T Jin, B Shao, J Doutch, J Yeow, A Najer, J Tang, H Barriga, C Liu, C Grigsby, A Alexander-Katz, RJ Shattock, MM Stevens. In preparation for submission
We used PET-RAFT polymerization to synthesize polyanion libraries with combinatorically varied properties for formulation of self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) ternary complexes. High throughput formulation screening of size stability (DLS), saRNA packaging (FRET), and cell uptake uncovered rules for polyplex surface charge reprogramming. Using Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS), Fluorescence Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy (FCCS), and Molecular Dynamics (MD) modeling, we describe the balance of coating polymer properties that are required to form charge-neutralized ternary complexes that can be re-targeted with affinity ligands.
The role of helper lipids in optimising nanoparticle formulations of self-amplifying RNA
BD Barbieri, DJ Peeler, K Samnuan, S Day, K Hu, HJ Sallah, JS Tregoning, PF McKay, RJ Shattock. (2024) Journal of Controlled Release 374:280-292. link
We demonstrated that human skin explants can be used to discriminate helper lipid-enhanced transfection of LNP-saRNA. Besides helper lipid effects, we also observed ionizable lipid-dependent immune responses in primary human PBMCs that differed from those in a commonly used monocyte cell line.
Lytic polyplex vaccines enhance antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell response through induction of local cell death
DJ Peeler*, A Yen*, N Luera, PS Stayton, SH Pun. (2021) Advanced Therapeutics, 4(8):2100005. link
We adapted a vector initially used for plasmid delivery to investigate how endosomal escape mediated by lytic peptides can augment anti-cancer cellular immunity generated by peptide antigen and TLR3 agonist delivery.
pH-sensitive polymer micelles provide selective and potentiated lytic capacity to venom peptides for effective intracellular delivery
DJ Peeler, SN Thai, YL Cheng, PJ Horner, DL Sellers, SH Pun. (2019) Biomaterials, 192: 235-244. link
We synthesized and screened dozens of lytic peptides and evaluated their ability to enhance endosomal escape and pDNA transfection in the brain when conjugated to a pH-responsive di-block copolymer.
Papers in progress
DJ Peeler*, R Sun*, C Kutahya, P Peschke, K Zhou, G Brachi, J Yeow, O Rifaie-Graham, JP Wojciechowski, T Fernandez-Debets, V LaLone, X Song, K Polra, PF McKay, JS Tregoning, RJ Shattock, MM Stevens. "Nanoscale biodegradable printing for designed tuneability of vaccine delivery kinetics" (2024) submitted; pre-print @ bioRxiv
L Hu*, DJ Peeler*, T Jin, B Shao, J Doutch, H Barriga, J Yeow, A Najer, J Tang, C Liu, C Grigsby, A Alexander-Katz, RJ Shattock, MM Stevens. “Polyanion chemistry engineers saRNA nanoparticle structure and function from the inside out” in preparation for submission to ACS Nano
R Tresa*, DJ Peeler*, C Liu, L Hu, C Saunders, J Penders, MM Stevens. “Single particle characterization of polyelectrolyte nanoparticles for mRNA delivery” in preparation for submission to ACS Nano
J Tang, A Creamer, A Najer, DJ Peeler, A Weston, E Childs, L Collinson, C Reis e Sousa, MM Stevens. “Modular FRET semiconductive nanosensor illuminates kinetics of disulfide reduction during endocytosis in antigen presentation cells” in preparation for submission to Nature Biotechnology
DJ Peeler, Z Wang, S Jokonya, PF McKay, B Dias Barbieri, JS Tregoning, RJ Shattock, PS Stayton, MM Stevens. "Location, Location, Inflammation: Targeted STING agonism differentially impacts expression and immunogenicity of self-amplifying RNA formulated in polymer vs. lipid nanoparticles" in preparation for submission to Molecular Therapy
DJ Peeler, M Cao, B Shao, E Emery-Peters, RJ Shattock, MM Stevens. “Rapidly reduced polylipidoids offer tunable mRNA uptake mechanisms with minimal immunogenicity” in preparation for submission to Nano Letters
Invited talks
DJ Peeler, 11th International Oligo Symposia: Antisense and Therapeutic Nucleic Acids, Oxford, UK 2025
DJ Peeler, S Jokonya, Z Wang, JS Tregoning, RJ Shattock, PS Stayton, MM Stevens. "Location, Location, Inflammation: Targeted STING agonism differentially impacts expression and immunogenicity of self-amplifying RNA formulated in polymer vs. lipid nanoparticles" Drug Carriers in Medicine & Biology Gordon Research Conference, Portland, Maine 2024 (selected short talk) and RNA Vaccines and Therapeutics Conference, London, UK 2024 (invited talk)
DJ Peeler “Soft Materials for Drug Delivery: from Nano to Micro” Oxford Life Science Alliance Annual Symposium 2024
DJ Peeler*, R Sun*, G Brachi, C Kutahya, K Zhou, J Yeow, O Rifaie-Graham, X Song, BD Barbieri, K Polra, J Tregoning, R Shattock, MM Stevens “Injectable hollow microparticles with high macromolecule loading and design-controlled release” Gordon Research Seminar: Drug Carriers in Medicine & Biology 2022
DJ Peeler, SN Thai, YL Cheng, PJ Horner, DL Sellers, SH Pun. " Lytic peptide polymer properties that promote endosomal escape of nucleic acid cargo" Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society 2018 Annual Meeting
Published papers
K Chen, A Najer, P Charchar, C Saunders, C Thanapongpibul, A Klöckner, M Chami, DJ Peeler, I Silva, L Panariello, K Karu, CN Loynachan, LC Frenette, M Potter, JS Tregoning, IP Parkin, AM Edwards, TB Clarke, I Yarovsky, MM Stevens. “Non-invasive in vivo sensing of bacterial implant infection using catalytically-optimised gold nanocluster-loaded liposomes for urinary readout” Nature Communications (2024) accepted.
C Thanapongpibul, O Rifaie-Graham, M Ojansivu, A Najer, H Kim, SE Bakker, M Chami, DJ Peeler, C Liu, J Yeow, MM Stevens “Unlocking intracellular protein delivery by harnessing polymersomes synthesized at microliter volumes using Photo-PISA” Advanced Materials (2024) accepted.
BD Barbieri, DJ Peeler, K Samnuan, S Day, K Hu, HJ Sallah, JS Tregoning, PF McKay, RJ Shattock. “The role of helper lipids in optimising nanoparticle formulations of self-amplifying RNA” Journal of Controlled Release (2024) 374:280-292.
R Sun, X Song, K Zhou, Y Zuo, R Wang, O Rifaie‐Graham, DJ Peeler, R Xie, Y Leng, H Geng, G Brachi, Y Ma, Y Liu, L Barron, MM Stevens. “Assembly of fillable microrobotic systems by microfluidic loading with dip sealing” Advanced Materials (2023), 35(13):2207791.
D Baldassi, S Ambike, M Feuerherd, CC Cheng, DJ Peeler, DP Feldmann, DL Porras-Gonzalez, X Wei, LA Keller, N Kneidinger, MG Stoleriu, A Popp, G Burgstaller, SH Pun, T Michler, OM Merkel. “Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Replication in the Lung with SiRNA/VIPER Polyplexes” Journal of Controlled Release (2022), 345:661-674.
S Lv*, K Song*, A Yen, DJ Peeler, DC Nguyen, A Olshefsky, M Sylvestre, S Srinivasan, PS Stayton, SH Pun. "Well-defined Mannosylated Polymer for Peptide Vaccine Delivery with Enhanced Antitumor Immunity" (2021) Advanced Healthcare Materials, 11(9):2101651.
DJ Peeler*, A Yen*, N Luera, PS Stayton, SH Pun. "Lytic polyplex vaccines enhance antigen-specific cytotoxic T cell response through induction of local cell death" (2021) Advanced Therapeutics, 4(8):2100005.
M Sylvestre, S Lv, L Yang, N Luera, DJ Peeler, BM Chen, S Roffler, SH Pun. “Replacement of L-amino acid peptides with D-amino acid peptides mitigates anti-PEG antibody generation against polymer-peptide conjugates in mice” (2020) Journal of Controlled Release, 331:142-153.
DJ Peeler, N Luera, PJ Horner, SH Pun, DL Sellers. "Polyplex transfection from intraventricular delivery is not significantly affected by traumatic brain injury" (2020) Journal of Controlled Release, 322:149-156.
J Lee*, T Zhao*, DJ Peeler, D Lee, T Pichon, D Li, K Weigandt, PJ Horner, L Pozzo, DL Sellers, SH Pun. "Formulation of thrombin-inhibiting hydrogels by self-assembly of ionic peptides with peptide-modified polymers" (2020) Soft Matter, 16(15):3762-3768.
DL Sellers, JY Tan, JM Pineda, DJ Peeler, V Porubsky, B Olden, S Salipante, SH Pun. “Targeting Ligands Deliver Model Drug Cargo into the Central Nervous System Along Autonomic Neurons” (2019) ACS Nano, 13(10):10961-71.
GW Liu, SL Johnson, R Jain, DJ Peeler, S Shankland, SH Pun. "Optimized non-viral gene delivery for primary urinary renal progenitor cells to enhance cell migration" (2019) Journal of Biomedical Materials Research: Part A, 107A:2718– 2725.
DJ Peeler, SN Thai, YL Cheng, PJ Horner, DL Sellers, SH Pun. "pH-sensitive polymer micelles provide selective and potentiated lytic capacity to venom peptides for effective intracellular delivery" (2019) Biomaterials, 192: 235-244.
DJ Peeler, DL Sellers, SH Pun. "pH-sensitive polymers as dynamic mediators of barriers to nucleic acid delivery" (2019) Bioconjugate Chemistry, 30(2): 350-365.
AB Rosenberg, CM Roco, RA Muscat, A Kuchina, P Sample, Z Yao, L Gray, DJ Peeler, S Mukherjee, W Chen, SH Pun, DL Sellers, B Tasic, G Seelig. "Single-cell profiling of the developing mouse brain and spinal cord with split-pool barcoding" (2018) Science, 360(6385):176-182.
DP Feldmann, YL Cheng, R Kandil, Y Xie, M Mohammadi, H Harz, A Sharma, DJ Peeler, A Moszczynska, H Leonhardt, SH Pun, OM Merkel. “In vitro and in vivo delivery of siRNA via VIPER polymer system to lung cells” (2018) Journal of Controlled Release, 276:50-58.
YL Cheng, DL Sellers, JY Tan, DJ Peeler, PJ Horner, and SH Pun. “Development of switchable polymers to address the dilemma of stability and cargo release in polycationic nucleic acid carriers” (2017) Biomaterials, 127:89-96.
YL Cheng, H Wei, JY Tan, DJ Peeler, DO Maris, DL Sellers, PJ Horner, and SH Pun. “Nano-sized sunflower polycations as effective gene transfer vehicles” (2016) Small, 12(20):2750-58.
KS Butler, BJ Casey, DJ Peeler, BJ Dair, RK Elespuru. "Genotoxicity of Nanomaterials: Probing the Responses of the Bacterial Assays" (2015) Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 56:S79.
KS Butler*, DJ Peeler*, BJ Casey, BJ Dair, RK Elespuru. "Silver Nanoparticles: Correlating NP Size and Cellular Uptake with Genotoxicity.” (2015) Mutagenesis, 30(4):577-91.