Samantha A. Meenach, University of Rhode Island

Dr. Samantha Meenach is a Professor at the University of Rhode Island (URI), with joint appointments in the Departments of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Materials Engineering and Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. A first-generation college student from rural Kentucky, she earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky. Her doctoral research focused on the development of magnetic hydrogel nanocomposites for cancer treatment through hyperthermia and drug delivery. She then completed postdoctoral training at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy and later returned to the University of Kentucky (UK) as an NIH NCI Cancer Nanotechnology Postdoctoral Trainee in the Colleges of Pharmacy and Engineering, where her work focused on aerosol-based nanotherapeutics for lung cancer treatment. Since joining URI in 2013, Dr. Meenach's research has centered on aerosol therapeutics for pulmonary diseases, nanoparticle systems designed to overcome physiological barriers, and in vitro methods for evaluating these systems. She currently serves as Principal Investigator and Program Director of the NIH-funded URI ESTEEMED program, which provides research training for undergraduate STEM students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, spending time with her husband and cats, playing games, traveling, kayaking, and practicing yoga.

Abstract: Crossing Barriers: Aerosol Nanotherapeutics and an Unexpected Scientific Journey

Growing up in a town of 183 people in rural Kentucky, I did not envision a path that would lead to a faculty position in Rhode Island. My trajectory began with undergraduate research through a REU program at the University of Kentucky in 2002. Subsequent experiences conducting research internationally, completing a Ph.D. in chemical engineering as an NSF IGERT Fellow, and pursuing postdoctoral training as an NIH postdoctoral scholar shaped my scientific identity and career direction. These formative training opportunities not only prepared me to lead an independent research program, but also redirected my long-term focus toward research training and STEM education. This presentation will highlight both the scientific and professional dimensions of that journey. From a research perspective, our work focuses on engineering aerosol nanotherapeutic systems capable of overcoming the pulmonary epithelial barrier. The lungs present an attractive route for drug delivery due to their large surface area, high perfusion, and relatively low enzymatic activity. However, effective transport across the pulmonary epithelium remains a significant challenge. We developed drug-loaded biodegradable polymer nanoparticles (NP) with tunable surface chemistries designed to enhance cellular internalization and epithelial transport. Nanoparticle shells included pulmonary cell membranes, cationic and anionic lipids, and hydrophilic polymers such as PEG and polyvinyl alcohol. These NP were encapsulated into inhalable nanocomposite microparticles (nCmP) using spray drying, enabling aerodynamic deposition within the lungs. Upon deposition, the microparticles dissociate to release the original NP, which can then internalize into or traverse epithelial cell monolayers. Particle morphology was characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, while size distribution and surface charge were assessed via dynamic light scattering. Cytotoxicity, drug release kinetics, and transport mechanisms were evaluated in vitro, including studies conducted in the presence of pharmacological inhibitors to probe uptake pathways. Aerosol dispersion performance and residual water content of the nCmP were also quantified. Together, this work illustrates how rational nanoparticle surface engineering and aerosol formulation strategies can be leveraged to enhance pulmonary drug delivery. Interwoven throughout the talk will be reflections on how structured research training experiences shaped both this scientific direction and my evolving commitment to developing the next generation of scientists.