Shawn Wettig

Professor, School of Pharmacy / Associate Dean of Science (Graduate Studies)

Research interests: biophysical chemistry and nanotechnology; self-assembly for drug delivery applications and gene therapy

Biography

Professor Shawn Wettig obtained his Ph.D. studying the physical chemistry of novel mixed surfactant/polymer systems with Professor Ron Verrall in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Saskatchewan. His research interests lie in the general areas of biophysical chemistry and nanotechnology; in particular at the interface of these two broadly defined areas. This research involves aspects of physical chemistry, solution thermodynamics, biochemistry and cell biology applied to the study of self-assembling systems. While self-assembly is a readily recognized tool in the design of systems for drug delivery applications, the use of self-assembly in the so-called “bottom-up” construction of nano-particulate systems for drug delivery applications is an emerging field. A key aspect of this research is the design of novel surface-active compounds (surfactants) that, in addition to providing the desired characteristics of self-assembly and control of particle dimensions on the nanometer size scale, can also provide enhanced pharmaceutical applications such as targeted delivery and/or enhanced bio-distribution of an active compound.

Education

Post-Doctoral Fellow, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 2004-2007
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 2001 - 2004
PhD, Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 2000
BSc, University of Lethbridge, 1994

Shawn Wettig

Research

Research projects in the Wettig group center on the design, synthesis, characterization of novel surface active compounds (known as surfactants) for use in drug delivery applications. Background information regarding the properties of Surfactants can be found on the Overview page. The major focus of current projects is the application of novel "Gemini" surfactants to the design of delivery systems for gene therapy.

Other research interests include the design of fluorescent surfactants for use as bioprobes to study the mechanism(s) of gene therapy.

Publications

Recent publications include:

J. Huang, P. X. Chen, and S. D. Wettig “Fluorescence-based techniques to assess the miscibility and physical stability of a drug-lipid complex” Canadian Journal of Chemistry, 97, 496-503 (2019)
M. Aborig, P. R. V. Malik, S. Nambiar, P. Chelle, J.Darko, A. Mutsaers, A. N. Edginton, A. Fleck, E. Osei and S. D. Wettig “Biodistribution and Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Gold Nanoparticles in Mice with Interspecies Extrapolation” Pharmaceutics, 11, 179 (2019)
J. Huang, P. X. Chen, M. A. Rogers, and S. D. Wettig “Investigating the phospholipid effect on the bioaccessibility of rosmarinic acid-phospholipid complex through a dynamic gastrointestinal in vitro model” Pharmaceutics, 11, 156 (2019)
L. Xu, A.R. Tetreault, H.H. Khaligh, I.A. Goldthorpe, S.D. Wettig, M.A. Pope “Continuous Langmuir–Blodgett Deposition and Transfer by Controlled Edge-to-Edge Assembly of Floating 2D Materials” Langmuir 35, 51-59 (2019)
O. Madkhali, G. Mekhail, S.D. Wettig “Modified Gelatin Nanoparticles for gene delivery” International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 554, 224-234 (2019)
S. Nambiara, E. Osei, A. Fleck, J. Darko, AJ. Mutsaers, and SD. Wettig “Synthesis of curcumin functionalized gold nanoparticles and cytotoxicity studies in human prostate-cancer cell line” Applied Nanoscience, 8, 347-357 (2018)
S.M. Shortall and S.D. Wettig “Cationic Gemini Surfactant–Plasmid Deoxyribonucleic Acid Condensates as a Single Amphiphilic Entity” J. Phys. Chem. B, 122, 194–199 (2018).
S.P. Callender, J.A. Matthews, K. Kobernyk, S.D. Wettig “Microemulsion utility in pharmaceuticals: Implications for multi-drug delivery” International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 526, 425-442 (2017)
M.S. Islam, S.M. Shortall, G.M. Mekhail, S.P. Callender, O. Madkhali, Z. Bharwani, D. Ayyash, K. Kobernyk, and S. Wettig “Self-assembly, Aggregation, Micellization studies of Cationic Gemini Surfactants associated with Various Counterions” Phys Chem Chem Phys, 17, 10825-10834 (2017) – COVER ARTICLE
A. Al Muslim, D. Ayyash, SS. Gujrala, PPN. Rao, and SD. Wettig “Synthesis and Characterization of Asymmetrical Gemini Surfactants” Phys Chem Chem Phys, 19, 1953-1962 (2017).
F. Damian, M. Harati, V. Pathak, J. Schwartzenhauer, D. Durham, V. Quiquero, O. van Cauwenberghe, SD. Wettig “Development of a Discriminating Dissolution Method that Demonstrates In Vitro-In Vivo Correlation for an Immediate Release Soft Gelatin Capsules Containing a BCS Class II Compound” Dissolution Technologies, 23, 6 – 13 (2016).
TF. Moghadama, S. Azizian, and S. Wettig “Effect of Spacer Length on the Interfacial Behavior of N,N΄-Bis(dimethylalkyl)-a,w-Alkanediammonium Dibromide Gemini Surfactants in the Absence and Presence of ZnO Nanoparticles” Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 486, 204-210 (2017)
GM. Mekhail, AO. Kamel, GAS. Awad, ND. Mortada , RL. Rodrigo, PA. Spagnuolo, SD. Wettig “Synthesis and evaluation of alendronate-modified gelatin biopolymer as a novel osteotropic nanocarrier for gene therapy” Nanomedicine (Lond.) 11, 2251-2273 (2016).
T. Ahmed, AO. Kamel, SD. Wettig “Interactions between DNA and Gemini surfactant: impact on gene therapy: part I” Nanomedicine (Lond.) 11, 289 - 306 (2016)
T. Ahmed, AO. Kamel, SD. Wettig “Interactions between DNA and Gemini surfactant: impact on gene therapy: part II” Nanomedicine (Lond.) 11, 403-420 (2016)