Green droplets: Restoring damaged skin via plant lipid droplets

Skin cancer incidence is rising globally, while topical chemotherapies suffer from poor skin penetration and limited cellular drug uptake, often relying on harmful penetration enhancers. This project explores a bio-inspired alternative using plant lipid droplets (pLDs) as natural carriers for transdermal drug delivery. We will encapsulate anticancer agents such as 5-fluorouracil (5FU) in pLDs and engineer their interfacial properties to control release kinetics. Using 3D-biofabricated skin models combined with microfluidic thin-film balance measurements and fluorescence microscopy, we will evaluate penetration, release, and therapeutic efficacy, aiming to establish a safe and effective delivery platform for skin cancer therapy.