Publications

Choline Geranate Dec 2024 

 Ionic liquids, organic salts in a liquid state below 100 °C, have traditionally been associated with industrial applications. Recent research has introduced a new generation of ionic liquids, designed from biocompatible ions, to enable applications in drug delivery. Here, I provide a historical perspective, development status and applications of a leading example of biocompatible ionic liquids, a salt of Choline And Geranic acid (CAGE). Since its first report in 2014, CAGE has opened multiple drug delivery applications including transdermal, oral, buccal, sustained release, tissue ablation, periodontitis and hand hygiene, among others. CAGE-based products have been tested in more than 200 patients through multiple Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies, including successful use in a Phase 2 clinical study in Atopic Dermatitis patients. CAGE became the first ‘drug delivery ionic liquid’ to enter into clinical trials. This article summarizes the key fundamental and translational aspects of CAGE as pertained to its use in drug delivery. 

medRxiv, August 2020

Herein, we describe a skin protectant, IonLASTTM, based on an ionic liquid/deep eutectic solvent, formed by GRAS materials, choline and geranic acid (CAGE, CG-101), that provides protection for at least 4h after a single application. IonLASTTM was formulated as a gel that facilitates easy application on the skin. Tolerance of CG-101 was substantiated through a study in human volunteers. In vitro studies confirmed that IonLASTTM effectively inactivates a human coronavirus hCoV229E. A second human clinical study established that a single application of IonLASTTM imparts protection against microbes that lasts up to several hours.  

Science Advances, July 2020

The limitations of topical nucleic acid delivery were circumvented by using an ionic liquid (IL) combination to successfully deliver a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based treatment directly to the skin in a mouse model of psoriasis, significantly reducing levels of inflammatory cytokines and symptoms of psoriasis without systemic side effects.