Shawn Wettig

• Design, synthesis and characterization of novel surfactants
• Application of surfactants to drug delivery and gene therapy
• Characterization of lipid membranes using biophysical methods

Dr. Wettig’s 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.

For more information see Dr. Wettig’s Research Group

Dr. Wettig teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. Course offerings have included:

• PHARM 124 Pharmaceutics 1
• PHARM 126 Calculations
• PHARM 604 Gene Therapy
• PHARM 605 Physical Chemistry and Application of Surfactants
• PHARM 608A Special Topics in Pharmaceutical Science: SoftGel Development

• Ahmed T, Kamel AO, Wettig SD. Interactions between DNA and gemini surfactant: Impact on gene therapy: Part I. Nanomedicine (Lond). 2016;11(3):289-306.
• Ahmed T, Kamel AO, Wettig SD. Interactions between DNA and gemini surfactant: Impact on gene therapy: Part II. Nanomedicine (Lond). 2016;11(4):403-420.
• Akbar J, Tavakoli N, Marangoni DG, Wettig SD. Mixed aggregate formation in gemini surfactant/1,2-dialkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine systems. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2012;377(1):237-243.
• Fereidooni Moghadam T, Azizian S, Wettig S. Synergistic behaviour of ZnO nanoparticles and gemini surfactants on the dynamic and equilibrium oil/water interfacial tension. Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2015;17(11):7122-7129.
• Sum CH, Chong JY, Wettig S, Slavcev RA. Separation and purification of linear covalently closed deoxyribonucleic acid by Q-anion exchange membrane chromatography. J Chromatogr A. 2014;1339:214-218.
• Sum CH, Nafissi N, Slavcev RA, Wettig S. Physical characterization of gemini surfactant-based synthetic vectors for the delivery of linear covalently closed (LCC) DNA ministrings. PLoS One. 2015;10(11):e0142875.
• Sum CH, Wettig S, Slavcev RA. Impact of DNA vector topology on non-viral gene therapeutic safety and efficacy. Curr Gene Ther. 2014;14(4):309-329.

• Slavcev, Roderick, Wettig, Shawn. Lipoplexed Safe DNA. U.S. Provisional Patent Application. 2009. USPTO.

• 2017 Outstanding Performance Award

• Cross-appointed to Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo
• Member of the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology

• Associate Editor, Journal of Surfactants and Detergents
• Chartered Chemist (Association of the Chemistry Professionals of Ontario)
• Member of the Canadian Society for Chemistry (Chemical Institute of Canada)

Here are some of the news stories which have featured Professor Dr. Wettig's research:

• November, 2018: New gold nanoparticle cancer therapy technique could help animals and humans

• October 7, 2015: Shawn Wettig receives funding for research to fine-tune prostate cancer treatment using irradiated gold nanoparticles

• October 5, 2015: Prof. Shawn Wettig's research is set to take a big step forward, from the petri dish to real cancer cases

• April 30, 2012: Dr. Shawn Wettig has been awarded an Early Researcher Award from the Province of Ontario

2000 PhD Physical Chemistry (University of Saskatchewan) 

1995 BSc Chemistry & Physics (University of Lethbridge)