Xiuling Lu, Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of Connecticut
Xiuling Lu, Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of Connecticut
iochemistry
iochemistry
Biography
Xiuling Lu is a Professor of Pharmaceutics at the University of Connecticut, Associate Director of Center for Pharmaceutical Processing Research, current vice chair of Controlled Release Society Nanomedicine and Nanoscale Delivery focus group, AAPS Nanotechnology community leader, Past Chair of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology & Education. Dr. Lu received her Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She was appointed as a Research Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2008 to 2011 prior to joining the School of Pharmacy at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Lu’s research is focused on innovative nanotechnologies for advanced drug delivery, optimization and evaluation of complex drug formulations and pharmaceutical processing, as well as the use of versatile imaging tools to improve pharmaceutical product quality. Dr. Lu has been active in both translating potential therapeutics to the clinic and commercializing nanomedicines. Dr. Lu serves as the CSO of Nami Therapeutics Corp. developing nanoparticle-based radiopharmaceutical targeting difficult-to-treat peritoneal metastasis. Her research is supported by NIH, American Cancer Society, NSF, FDA etc. Dr. Lu is an Editor of AAPS Open, serving on the editorial board of AAPS PharmSciTech, Pharmaceutical Research, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, and Drug Delivery and Translational Research. Dr. Lu received American Association of University Professors-UConn Excellence in Research and Creativity: Early Career Award in 2016 and Dean Robert L. McCarthy Faculty Service Award in 2019 as well as 2023 Research Advising Award. Dr. Lu was elected as the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences (AAPS) Fellow in 2023, received 19th Annual Women of Innovation Award in Research Innovation and Leadership, Connecticut Technology Council and Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology in 2024, elected as a member of Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering in 2025, and Controlled Release Society Fellow in 2025, received 2025 Michael J. Pikal NIPTE Distinguished Scholar Award in Pharmaceutical Processing.
Interview
NanoSphere: Tell us a bit about yourself—your background, journey, and what led you to where you are today.
Xiuling: I received my training as a biochemical engineer in China and transitioned to pharmaceutical science upon joining the University of Kentucky School of Pharmacy as a postdoctoral scholar in 2006. Since then, my research has focused on nanocarriers and drug delivery systems. By leveraging my engineering background, I have been able to inform the design of advanced nanocarrier platforms, applying both my curiosity and commitment to addressing real-world challenges and facilitating the translation of laboratory discoveries to clinical applications. My motivation is driven not only by scientific interest but also by the urgent needs expressed by physicians facing limited treatment options and by patients’ families who have reached out to share that our work represents their hope. Guided by these needs, I remain dedicated to advancing solutions for patient care.
NanoSphere: You’ve developed novel delivery systems and radiotherapeutic nanoparticles — what do you see as the most persistent barrier in translating these from promising preclinical data to robust clinical outcomes?
Xiuling: For most nanoparticle-based delivery systems, a major challenge in clinical translation is the biological variation between species. The levels of biological targets can differ between humans and mice. Cancer treatment is complex because the same cancer type may differ according to developmental stage and individual variability. Some treatments may elicit a positive response in certain patients but not in others. Assessing the benefits of treatment and identifying appropriate patients for therapy are important steps toward achieving clinical effectiveness. In addition, current nanomedicines face two primary challenges: delivery efficiency and manufacturability. The majority of nanoparticle-based delivery systems are administered intravenously; nonetheless, only a small portion of the administered dose reaches the intended target site, such as a tumor, even when targeting ligands are present. Nanoparticles possess a greater degree of complexity compared to small molecule or biological drugs. While these delivery systems can incorporate multiple functional groups to enhance therapeutic outcomes, large-scale manufacturing with consistent quality remains a significant challenge. These factors continue to hinder the clinical translation of nanomedicines. We collaborate with Nami Therapeutics Corp. to develop a radiopharmaceutical designed to selectively accumulate in metastases within the peritoneal cavity following intraperitoneal administration. This formulation does not utilize targeting ligands or biological targets. The nanoparticles have demonstrated consistent tumor accumulation across multiple tumor models, with limited exposure to normal tissues, attributed to interactions between the nanoparticles and the collagen-rich extracellular matrix of tumors. Since tumor growth in various species and cell lines exhibits a collagen-rich extracellular matrix, similar results are anticipated in humans. The nanoparticle system can be produced at large scale, potentially easing CMC-related challenges. Additionally, radioactive nanoparticles are amenable to imaging, which may aid patient selection and enable image-guided dosing. These characteristics contribute to addressing translational risks for this nanoparticle-based radiopharmaceutical for peritoneal metastases.
NanoSphere: Through your leadership roles at NIPTE — organizing strategic workshops and focus groups — and at CRS as Vice Chair of the Nanomedicine and Nanoscale Delivery Focus Group and GMEC contributor, you’ve helped shape the direction of scientific exchange. How can collaborative platforms like these accelerate the clinical and regulatory traction of complex nanomedicine delivery systems?
Xiuling: Collective efforts within the pre-competitive space are necessary to advance nanomedicines. Communication platforms serve as resources for open discussions and information exchange, which can help avoid redundant failures among experts from academia, industry, and regulatory agencies. Topic-specific workshops and panel discussions, such as those organized by CRS focus groups on “Nanomedicines around the World—Challenges and Strategies in Regulatory,” contribute to the progression of clinical translation for complex nanomedicine delivery systems.
Xiuling: Collective efforts within the pre-competitive space are necessary to advance nanomedicines. Communication platforms serve as resources for open discussions and information exchange, which can help avoid redundant failures among experts from academia, industry, and regulatory agencies. Topic-specific workshops and panel discussions, such as those organized by CRS focus groups on “Nanomedicines around the World—Challenges and Strategies in Regulatory,” contribute to the progression of clinical translation for complex nanomedicine delivery systems.
NanoSphere: If there’s one key message or insight you’d like to share with readers about the future of RNA therapeutics, what would it be?
Xiuling: Reduced complexity in nanomedicine facilitates improved translation.
Xiuling: Reduced complexity in nanomedicine facilitates improved translation.