Nanomedicine Research Lab

Design With the Scale in Mind

Nanomedicine Manufacturing Laboratory (NML) is a research and development laboratory specializing in nanomaterials and biomaterials for imaging, oxygen delivery, and drug delivery, with a core emphasis on scalable manufacturing and Quality-by-Design (QbD).

The Nanomedicine Manufacturing Laboratory develops colloidal nanosystems and implantable biomaterials that support molecular imaging modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and near-infrared fluorescence; biosensing, drug delivery; oxygen delivery; and theranostic nanomaterials, used for local and parenteral administration or as implantable biomaterials.

A major barrier to the advancement of nanotechnology-based therapeutics is not conceptual innovation but manufacturability, cost, and quality control. The Nanomedicine Manufacturing Laboratory addresses these challenges by incorporating manufacturing process design, scalability, and quality control at the earliest stages of material design. Over the past decade, the laboratory has established robust, reproducible, and cost-effective nanomedicine manufacturing methods by applying QbD frameworks, enabling reliable scale-up and controlled performance.

nanomed group — Photo (left to right): Top row: Smith, Amit, Lynn, Dr. J, Newaj, Diponkor, Lu; Bottom row: Pinky, Sanjida, Vidya, Riddhi

Using this approach, the Nanomedicine Manufacturing Laboratory has delivered advances including imaging-supported nanomedicines for trauma and surgical pain, oxygen-carrying nanomaterials with integrated imaging for real-time tracking during organ and limb preservation, longitudinal immunomonitoring in non-human primate and porcine models using clinical-grade imaging systems, and functional recovery following local and systemic nanomedicine implantation in nerve injury models.

In parallel, the Nanomedicine Manufacturing Laboratory designs and manufactures biocompatible, multi-drug delivery hydrogels and biomaterials for applications including neuroregeneration, local immunosuppression, and wound healing. Laboratory processes have been scaled to multi-liter batch production and evaluated in human organ/tissue preservation trials, demonstrating performance beyond benchtop conditions.

The laboratory’s work is supported by the U.S. Air Force, the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), and ARPA-H through collaborative programs spanning academia, industry, and government. The Nanomedicine Manufacturing Laboratory operates at the intersection of materials science, manufacturing, and translational medicine, with a focus on developing innovative nanomedicines and biomaterials that translate into accessible, cost-effective future treatments for civilian and military medical needs.

Watch: Advancing Nanomedicine Formulation and Delivery at Duquesne University

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In the News

2025 Nanomedicine Lab Making Big Strides with Tiny Particles
2024 Duquesne University has received a new $1.5 million grant that will expand research into using nanoparticle technology to preserve human limbs for transplantation surgeries.
2022 “New Study Highlights Differences in Neuropathic Pain Relief for Men and Women” Duquesne University Times
2021 “Nanotechnology May Help Improve Organ Transplantation Outcomes” Duquesne University Times and McGowan Institute newsletter
2020 Article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Created particle could cure chronic pain
2020 Article in the Duquesne Times: “Researcher Helps Lead Nanomedicine Effort in Transplantation”
2019 TEDxCMU Jelena Janjic is the Invited Speaker for “Ripple Effect” Main Conference, March 30, 2019 – When in Pain, Innovate!
2018 Interview with Joe Palca, NPR: Joe's Big Idea Inspired by Her Own Pain, A Researcher Explores Alternatives to Opioid Treatments

2018 Highlights from the American Pain Society Scientific Summit: Can Nanomedicine Play a Role in the Future of Pain Treatment? A session at the March 4-6, 2018, event featured animal studies on macrophage-targeted nanomedicine by Ashley Cowie on 29 May 2018
2018 Interview for WTAE (Channel 4 News)
2018 “Duquesne Researchers Working On Drug That Could Be Upgrade To Current Anti-Inflammatories” By Joaquin Gonzalez, April 3, 2018 NPR, WESA interview
2017 Interview for the podcast Regenerative Medicine Today - Janjic - Podcast #167
2014 “Duquesne Professors Collaborate to Pioneer Research On Chronic Pain” September 23, 2014
Duquesne University Magazine, Fall 2014 “Where Does It Hurt? New Processes Development by Duquesne’s Chronic Pain Consortium Could Provide the Answer” April 16, 2014, Duquesne University News
2014 “Got Collaboration? New Provost Award Encourages Interdisciplinary Research” Duquesne University Times April 9, 2014
2012 “Grant Funds Chronic Pain Study at Duquesne University,” Duquesne University News, February 1, 2012

Publications

Patel S, Pinky PP, Das AC, Copus JS, Aardema C, Crelli C, Troidle A, Lambert E, McCallin R, Surti V, et al. Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsions for Simultaneous Delivery of Oxygen and Antioxidants During Machine Perfusion Supported Organ Preservation. Pharmaceutics. 2026; 18(2):143.
Das, A.C.; Reddy, G.A.; Newaj, S.M.; Patel, S.; Vichare, R.; Liu, L.; Janjic, J.M. Design of Experiments Leads to Scalable Analgesic Near-Infrared Fluorescent Coconut Nanoemulsions. Pharmaceutics 2025, 17, 1010. (cover page article) - The research originated from the GPSC508 course student project.
Riddhi Vichare and Jelena M. Janjic,* “Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsions in Drug Delivery: Design, Development and Manufacturing” Theranostics. 2025 Feb 10;15(7):3013–3034.
Riddhi Vichare, Yalcin Kulahci, Rebecca McCallin, Fatih Zor, Fatma Nurefsan Selek, Lu Liu, Caitlin Crelli, Anneliese Troidle, Michele Herneisey, James M. Nichols, Andrew J. Shepherd, Vijay Gorantla, Jelena M. Janjic* “Theranostic Nanoemulsions Suppress Macrophage-Mediated Acute Inflammation in Rats” Theranostic nanoemulsions suppress macrophage-mediated acute inflammation in rats. J Nanobiotechnol 2025, 23, 80
Srishti, Sanjida Ahmed, Paromita Paul Pinky, Ryan Taylor, Jacob Guess, Natasha Karlik, and Jelena M. Janjic* "Quality by Design (QbD)-Driven Development and Optimization of Tacrolimus-Loaded Microemulsion for the Treatment of Skin Inflammation" Pharmaceutics 2024, 16, no. 12: 1487. The research originated from the GPSC508 course student project.
AC Das, JM Nichols, CV Crelli, L Liu, R Vichare, HV Pham, CM Gaffney, FR Cherry, PM Grace, AJ Shepherd*, JM Janjic* “Injectable, reversibly thermoresponsive captopril-laden hydrogel for the local treatment of sensory loss in diabetic neuropathy” Scientific Reports 2024, 14, Article number: 18978
I Cortez, CM Gaffney, R Vichare, CV Crelli, L Liu, E Lee, J Edralin, J M Nichols, HVu Pham, S Mehdi, JM Janjic*, Andrew J Shepherd* “Neuromuscular Polytrauma Pain is Resolved by Macrophage COX-2 Nanoimmunomodulation” International Journal of Nanomedicine 2024, 7253-7271
Ibdanelo Cortez, Caitlyn M. Gaffney, Caitlin V. Crelli, Eric Lee, James M. Nichols, Hoang Vu Pham, Syed Mehdi, Jelena M. Janjic* and Andrew J. Shepherd*"Sustained Pain and Macrophage Infiltration in a Mouse Muscle Contusion Model" Muscle and Nerve 2024 69(1):103-114. doi: 10.1002/mus.28001 (IF: 3.852)
A Gorantla, JTVE Hall, A Troidle, JM Janjic* “Biomaterials for Protein Delivery: Opportunities and Challenges to Clinical Translation” 2024 Micromachines 15 (4), 533 (invited review)
Janjic, J. M.*, McCallin, R., Liu, L., Crelli, C., Das, A. C. and Troidle, A. “In vitro Quality Assessments of Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsions for Near-infrared Fluorescence Imaging of Inflammation in Preclinical Models” 2023 Bio-protocol 13(19): e4842. DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.4842. (invited paper)
van Heeswijk RB, Bauer WR, Bönner F, Janjic JM, Mulder WJM, Schreiber LM, Schwitter J, Flögel U. “Cardiovascular molecular imaging with fluorine-19 MRI – the road to the clinic” Circulation Cardiovasc Imaging. 2023, 16(9):e014742.(IF: 39.92) (invited expert review)
Vichare R, Crelli C, Liu L, Das AC, McCallin R, Zor F, Kulahci Y, Gorantla VS, Janjic JM* “A Reversibly Thermoresponsive, Theranostic Nanoemulgel for Tacrolimus Delivery to Activated Macrophages: Formulation and In Vitro Validation” 2023;15(10):2372. (IF:6.525), invited paper for a special issue
Vichare R, Crelli C, Liu L, McCallin R, Cowan A, Stratimirovic S, Herneisey M, Pollock JA, Janjic JM* “Folate-conjugated near-infrared fluorescent perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions as theranostics for activated macrophage COX-2 inhibition” Scientific Reports 2023, 13(1):15229. (IF:4.997)
B Deal, K Phillips, C Crelli, JM Janjic*, JA Pollock “RNA-Seq Reveals Sex Differences in Gene Expression during Peripheral Neuropathic Inflammation and in Pain Relief from a COX-2 Inhibiting Theranostic Nanoemulsion” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2023, 24 (11), 9163 (IF: 6.208)
M Herneisey and JM Janjic* “Multiple Linear Regression Predictive Modeling of Colloidal and Fluorescence Stability of Theranostic Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsions” Pharmaceutics 2023, 15 (4), 1103 (IF:6.525)
Deal, L. Raynolds, C. Patterson, J.M. Janjic and J. A. Pollock* “Behavioral and inflammatory sex differences revealed by celecoxib nanotherapeutic treatment of peripheral neuroinflammation” Scientific Reports 2022, 12, 8472 (IF:4.997)
Vichare and J. M. Janjic* “Macrophage-Targeted Nanomedicines for ARDS/ALI: Promise and Potential” Inflammation 2022, 45 (6), 2124-2141
M Balogh, JM Janjic*, AJ Shepherd* “Targeting Neuroimmune Interactions in Diabetic Neuropathy with Nanomedicine” Antioxidants & redox signaling 2022, 36 (1-3), 122-143 (invited review article) (IF:6.6)
Charaschanya, T.S. Maskrey, M.G. LaPorte, J.M. Janjic*, and P.Wipf* “Synthesis and Optimization of Nitroxide-Based Inhibitors of Ferroptotic Cell Death in Cancer Cells and Macrophages” ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2022, 13 (3), 403-408 (IF:4.632)
JM Nichols, CV Crelli, L Liu, HV Pham, JM Janjic*, AJ Shepherd* “Tracking macrophages in diabetic neuropathy with two-color nanoemulsions for near-infrared fluorescent imaging and microscopy” Journal of Neuroinflammation (2021), Vo. 18, Article number: 299 (IF: 9.3)
SKR Adena, M. Herneisey, E. Pierce, PR Hartmeier, S. Adlakha, MA Hosfeld, JK Drennen, JM Janjic* “Quality by Design Methodology Applied to Process Optimization and Scale up of Curcumin Nanoemulsions Produced by Catastrophic Phase Inversion” Pharmaceutics, 2021, Vol 13(6), 880 (IF:6.525)
Lambert and J.M. Janjic* “Quality by design approach identifies critical parameters driving oxygen delivery performance in vitro for perfluorocarbon based artificial oxygen carriers” Scientific Reports 2021, 11, Article number: 5569 (IF:4.997)
M Herneisey, PF Salcedo, T Domenech, C Bagia, SS George, R Tunney, S. Velankar, T.K. Hitchens, M. Janjic* “Design of thermoresponsive polyamine cross-linked perfluoropolyether hydrogels for imaging and delivery applications” ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2020 (10^th Anniversary Special Edition, invited manuscript); Vol. 11, 10, 2032–2040 (IF:4.632)
Stevens, M. Saleem, B. Deal, J.M. Janjic, J.A. Pollock.* "Targeted COX-2 inhibiting nanomedicine results in pain-relief and differential expression of the RNA transcriptome in the dorsal root ganglia of injured male rats". Molecular Pain, 2020 Volume 16: 1–19 (IF:3.37)
L Liu, H Karagoz, M Herneisey, F Zor, T Komatsu, S Loftus, BM Janjic, VS Gorantla and JM Janjic* “Sex Differences Revealed in a Mouse CFA Inflammation Model with Macrophage Targeted Nanotheranostics” Theranostics 2020, 10 (4), 1694 (IF:12.4)
F Zor, H Karagoz, H Kapucu, Y Kulahci, JM Janjic, VS Gorantla* “Immunological considerations and concerns as pertinent to whole eye transplantation” Current opinion in organ transplantation 2019, 24 (6), 726-732
Stevens AM, Liu L, Bertovich D, Janjic JM, Pollock JA*. Differential Expression of Neuroinflammatory mRNAs in the Rat Sciatic Nerve Following Chronic Constriction Injury and Pain-Relieving Nanoemulsion NSAID Delivery to Infiltrating Macrophages. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Oct 24;20(21). pii: E5269. doi: 10.3390/ijms20215269.
JM Janjic* and VS Gorantla “Nanomedicine: new hope for transplant paradigms lost?” Nanomedicine 2019, 14 (20), 2645-2649: Foreword to Special Issue “Nanomedicine in Organ Transplantation and Regenerative Surgery–Advances, Applications, and Future Directions” Nanomedicine, November, 2019, Co-Edited by. V.S. Gorantla and J.M. Janjic
Lambert, V. Gorantla, J.M. Janjic* “Pharmaceutical Design and Development of Perfluorocarbon Nanocolloids for Oxygen Delivery in Regenerative Medicine” Nanomedicine 2019, Published Online:28 Oct 2019 Part of Special Issue “Nanomedicinein Organ Transplantation and Regenerative Surgery–Advances, Applications, and Future Directions” Nanomedicine, November, 2019, Co-Edited by. V.S. Gorantla and J.M. Janjic
M Saleem, B Deal, E. Nehl, JM Janjic, JA Pollock* “Nanomedicine-driven neuropathic pain relief in a rat model is associated with macrophage polaritry and mast cell activation.” Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2019. 7, Article number: 108
Herneisey, E.Lambert, A. Kachel, E. Shychuck, J. K. Drennen III and J.M. Janjic* “Quality by Design Approach Using Multiple Linear and Logistic Regression Modeling Enables Microemulsion Scale Up” Molecules 2019, 24(11), 2066; The research originated from the GPSC508 course student project.
M Saleem, AM Stevens, B Deal, L Liu, J Janjic, JA Pollock* “A New Best Practice for Validating Tail Vein Injections in Rat with Near-infrared-Labeled Agents.” Journal of visualized experiments: JoVE 2019 (146), e59295, doi:10.3791/59295
M. Janjic “Inflammation Targeted Nanomedicine: A perspective on the promise and potential of biomedical technologies for pain diagnosis and management.” (Invited Article) Practical Pain Management 2019, Vol (19), Issue 1, pages: 33-35
Lambert, J.M. Janjic* “Multiple Linear Regression Applied to Predicting Droplet Size of Complex Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsions for Biomedical Applications” Pharmaceutical Development and Technology 2019, 24, 700-710
Herneisey, L. Liu, E. Lambert, N. Schmitz, S. Loftus, and J.M. Janjic* Development of Theranostic Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsions as a Model Non-Opioid Pain Nanomedicine Using a Quality by Design (QbD) Approach AAPS PharmSciTech 2019, 20: 65.
M. Janjic* and V.S. Gorantla* “Novel Nanoimaging Strategies for Noninvasive Graft Monitoring in Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation” invited commentary, Current Transplantation Reports 2018, 5 (4), 369-372
M. Janjic*, K. Vasudeva, M. Saleem, L. Liu, S.K. Patel, A. Stevens, J.A. Pollock* “Low-dose NSAIDs reduce pain via macrophage targeted nanoemulsion delivery to neuroinflammation of the sciatic nerve in Rat” Journal of Neuroimmunology 2018, (The first Theranostic Pain Nanomedicine)
M. Janjic* and V. Gorantla "Clinically translatable nanotheranostic platforms for peripheral nerve regeneration: design with outcome in mind", Proc. SPIE 10508, Reporters, Markers, Dyes, Nanoparticles, and Molecular Probes for Biomedical Applications X, 1050803 (20 February 2018); doi: 10.1117/12.2289288
M. Janjic* and V. Gorantla “Peripheral Nerve Nano-Imaging: Monitoring Treatment and Regeneration” 2017, AAPS J. Sep;19(5), 1304-1316 (invited review)
Herneisey, M., Williams, J., Mirtic, J., Liu, L., Potdar, S., Bagia, C., Cavanaugh, J.E., Janjic, J.M.* Development and characterization of resveratrol nanoemulsions carrying dual-imaging agents Therapeutic Delivery 2016, 7 (12), 795-808
BJ Kolber, JM Janjic, JA Pollock, KJ Tidgewell Summer undergraduate research: A new pipeline for pain clinical practice and research BMC Medical Education 2016 (1), 16:135 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-016-0648-7
Janjic, J.M.*, Berlec, A., Bagia, C., Liu, L.S., Jeric, I., Gach, M., Janjic, B.M., Strukelj, B.NIR and MR imaging supported hydrogel based delivery system for anti-TNF alpha probiotic therapy of IBD (2016) Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE, 9723, art. no. 972309
Liu, Bagia, C., Janjic, J.M.* “The First Scale up Production of Theranostic Nanoemulsions” Bioresearch Open Access 2015, 4(1): 218-228. (Invited Paper)
Patel, S.K., Beaino, W., Anderson, C.J., Janjic, M.* Theranostic Nanoemulsions for Macrophage COX-2 Inhibition in a Murine Inflammation Model Clinical Immunology 2015, 160, 59-70.
K. Patel and J.M. Janjic* “Macrophage Targeted Theranostics as Personalized Nanomedicine Strategies for Inflammatory Diseases” Theranostics 2015, (2), 150
Vasudeva, K., Vodovotz, Y., Azhar, N., Barclay, D., Janjic, M., Pollock, J.A.* “In Vivo and Systems Biology Studies Implicate IL-18 as a Central Mediator in Chronic Pain” Journal of Neuroimmunology 2015, 283, 43-49
Wen, Y., Liu, W., Bagia, , Zhang, S., Bai, M., Janjic, J.M., Giannoukakis, N., Gawalt, E. S., Meng, W.S.* “Antibody-Functionalized Peptidic Membranes for Neutralization of Allogeneic Skin Antigen-Presenting Cells” Acta Biomaterialia 2014, 10 (11), 4759-4767
Jia, N., Zhang, S., Shao, P., Bagia, C., Janjic, M., Ding, Y. and Bai, M.* “Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor as a New Phototherapy Target for Inhibition of Tumor Growth.” Molecular Pharmaceutics 2014, 11 (6), 1919–1929
Janjic, M.*, Shao, P., Zhang, S., Yang, X., Patel, S.K., Bai, M.* “Perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions with fluorescent, colloidal and magnetic properties” Biomaterials 2014, 35 (18), 4958-4968
Mountain, G.A., Jelier, B.J., Bagia, C., Friesen, C.M., Janjic, J.M. * “Design and formulation of nanoemulsions using 2-(poly (hexafluoropropylene oxide)) perfluoropropyl benzene in combination with linear perfluoro (polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether)”Journal of Fluorine Chemistry 2014, 162, 38–44
Vasudeva, K. Andersen, B. Zeyzus-Johns, T.K. Hitchens, S.K. Patel, A. Balducci, J.M. Janjic, J. A. Pollock* “Imaging Neuroinflammation In Vivo in a Neuropathic Pain Rat Model with Near-Infrared Fluorescence and 19F Magnetic Resonance” PloS one 2014, 9 (2), e90589
J. Patrick^¥, J.M. Janjic^¥, H. Teng, M.R. O'Hear, C.W. Brown, J.A. Stokum, B.F. Schmidt, E.T. Ahrens*, A.S. Waggoner “Intracellular pH measurements using perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions” Journal of the American Chemical Society 2013, 135 (49), 18445-18457. (^¥Co-first authors)
K. Patel, J. Williams, J.M. Janjic* “Cell labeling for ¹⁹F MRI: New and Improved Approach to Perfluorocarbon Nanoemulsion Design” Biosensors 2013, 3(3), 341-359 (open access)
K. Patel, M.J. Patrick, J.A. Pollock, J.M. Janjic* “Two-color fluorescent (near-infrared and visible) triphasic perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions” Journal of Biomedical Optics 2013, 18 (10), 101312,
M. Janjic*, S.K. Patel, M.J. Patrick, J.A. Pollock, E. DiVito, M. Cascio “Suppressing inflammation from inside out with novel NIR visible perfluorocarbon nanotheranostics” (Invited Paper) Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE 2013, 8596, art. no. 85960L
S.K. Patel, Y. Zhang, J.A. Pollock, J.M. Janjic* "Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibiting Perfluoropoly (ethylene glycol) ether Theranostic Nanoemulsions - In Vitro Study" PloS one 2013, 8(2):e55802.