Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a restrictive, interstitial lung disease that generates scarring on an individual's lungs and is highly terminal. During my summer of research and Brigham Young University, I looked into the efficacy of a peptide inhibitor called BP2_disulf by means of a 21 day in vivo study on 30 mice involving quality of life measurements such as weight, probability of survival, micro CT scan, and lung mechanics (done on a flexivent). Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) was collected from the mice at the end of the study, and the lungs were extracted from the mice, mirco sectioned, and were stained using a Masson trichrome stain. I will present on delivery methods of the peptide therapy and their efficacy that is showcased through all the data collected. I found that the nebulized version of the therapy made the diseased mouse weights less severe and that it also increased the probability of survival from any other diseased group by 20%. I also found that the injected version of the therapy increased the lung mechanics, such as Pressure Volume Loops and Static compliance, and yielded BALF data akin to healthy mice. Moving forward, nebulized delivery needs to be improved to yield more conclusive results on the delivery method needed to better stop fibrosis in its tracks.

REU summer dedicated to studying the efficacy of a peptide therapy to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.