Peppas is a leading scientist of modern drug delivery. He has helped to set the fundamentals and rational design of drug delivery systems and biomaterials over the past 39 years. He was the first to set the theories and equations that led to the design of a wide range of new systems. For example, using biomedical engineering principles and new biomedical transport theories, Peppas developed the equations that describe Fickian and non-Fickian diffusion of drugs, peptides and proteins in controlled release devices. The "Peppas equation" has become the standard method of analysis of pharmaceutical formulations or systems.[22] His earliest work also led to the development of a number of swelling-controlled release devices for the release of small molecular weight drugs. Using the modeling similarities of phase erosion and state erosion, he developed a unified model for all drug delivery systems.[23] Similarly, he developed the theoretical framework for the analysis of transport through crosslinked biomaterials (the Peppas-Reinhart theory),[24]ionichydrogels (the Brannon-Peppas theory),[25] and gel-tissue interactions via tethers (the Huang-Peppas theory[26] and the Sahlin-Peppas equation[27]). For the profound impact of these theories and analyses, Peppas has been recognized as the most cited and highly published author in "drug delivery", "biomaterials and drug delivery", and "intelligent materials". He is listed as a Highly Cited ResearcherSM of Thomson Scientific and the Institute of Scientific Information.[28] He has also ranked as the most cited chemical [29] and biomedical engineer [30] with 106,026 citations and an H-index of 152.
Applications of his theories and mathematical models have had a profound effect in the field.[31] Peppas and his students originated the novel muco- and bioadhesive systems that interact molecularly with the mucus and tissue and have been able to prolong bioavailability of proteins and peptides in the blood. As a result of his work, a number of biomedical polymers and commercial delivery devices have been launched. Peppas was the first to develop novel toxic-free poly(vinyl alcohol) gels by the freezing-thawing technique in 1975.[32] These gels became very successful articularcartilage replacement systems.[33][34] In 1978, he developed the same systems for in situ replacement of vocal cords.[35] In 1979 his group pioneered the use of hydrogels in drug delivery applications, including epidermal bioadhesive systems[36] and systems for the release of theophylline,[37] proxyphylline, diltiazem, and oxprenolol.[38] Peppas' lab has developed new technologies of oral delivery systems for insulin and other proteins.[39][40] These devices release insulin orally, "protecting" the insulin throughout its transport in the stomach, upper small intestine, and, eventually, blood, and bypassing diabetics' need for several daily injections.[41][42] The same technology has been used for the transmucosal (oral, buccal) delivery of calcitonin (for treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women)[43] and interferon-alpha (for cancer therapy), and is being investigated for interferon-beta release for multiple sclerotic patients.[44] Peppas was one of the pioneers of intelligent biomaterials, and medical devices. Using intelligent polymers[45][46] as early as 1980, Peppas and his group were the first to use such pH-sensitive and temperature-sensitive systems for modulated release of streptokinase and other fibrinolyticenzymes.
Peppas has founded three companies: Mimetic Solutions, Appian Labs and CoraDyn Biosystems for the commercialization of various pharmaceutical products and medical devices. He is the author of 1,450 publications, and numerous proceedings papers and abstracts, with more than 80,000 citations and an H-index of 135. He is the coauthor or coeditor of 37 books, including the three-volume Hydrogels in Medicine and Pharmacy (CRC Press, 1987),[47] the monographPulsatile Drug Delivery (WSGS, Stuttgart, 1993), two books on Biopolymers (Springer, 1994), the monograph Molecular and Cellular Foundations of Biomaterials (Academic Press, 2004[48]), the book Intelligent Therapeutics: Biomimetic Systems and Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery (Elsevier, 2004), the monograph Nanotechnology in Therapeutics (Horizon Press, 2007[49]) and the book Chronobiology and Drug Delivery (Elsevier, 2007).
Awards
He has been awarded more than 150 national and international awards. These include:
the highest distinctions of the Society for Biomaterials (the Founders Award for Lifetime Contributions[52][53] (2005), the William Hall Award for Service (2010) and the Clemson Award for Basic Research[54] (1992))
the Acta Biomaterialia Gold Medal (2010)
the highest recognition from the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA Distinguished Scientist Award (2010))
the International Award, European Society for Biomaterials (2015)
the Giulio Natta Medal, from the Polytechnic School of Milan, Italy (2014)
the highest research recognitions from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (the Founders Award [55] (2008), the 59th Institute Lecture[56] (2007), the William Walker Award[57] (2006)) as well as the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Award (2014), the Food, Pharmaceuticals and Bioengineering Award[58] (1991) and the CMA Stine Materials Science and Engineering Award[59] (1984)
the Jay Bailey Award[60] from the Society for Biological Engineering (2006)
the Applied Polymer Science Award from the American Chemical Society (2014) [61]
the highest recognitions of the Controlled Release SocietyArchived 25 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine (the 2015 Life Contributions CRS award, the 1991 Founders Award[62] and the 2002 Eurand Award for Outstanding Contributions in Oral Drug Delivery)
the highest recognition from the European Pharmaceutical Associations, APGI, APV and ADRITELF (the Maurice-Marie Janot Award, 2010)
the highest recognitions of the American Society for Engineering Education (the 2013 Benjamin Garver Lamme Excellence in Engineering Education Award, the 2000 General Electric Senior Research Award recognizing the best engineering researcher of the USA[63]), as well as the 1992 George Westinghouse Award recognizing the best teacher,[63] the 1988 Curtis McGraw Award for best engineering research under the age of 40,[63] and the 2006 Dow Chemical Engineering Award
In addition, he has received the highest scientific recognitions from both Universities with which he has been associated:
the 2007 Career Excellence Research Award from the University of Texas at Austin (first engineer in the history of the award)[64]
the 2004 Hamilton Award for best paper from the University of Texas at Austin
the 2002 Sigma Xi Award for Best Research from Purdue University[65]
the 2000 McCoy Award[66] from Purdue University (second engineer in the 40-year history of the award)[67]
In 2008 he was selected as one of the 100 Engineers of the Modern Era by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.[68] In 1991, the journal Polymer News recognized him as a polymer pioneer. Finally, in 2002, he was recognized as a biomedical pioneer[69] by the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.
Nicholas Peppas is married to Lisa Brannon-Peppas,[74] whom he met at Purdue University, where she was doing her Ph.D. in chemical engineering. They have two children, Katherine and Alexander. They reside in Austin, Texas. Peppas' extracurricular activities include writing about the history of chemical engineering, opera, history and other subjects. He has published books[75] and review articles[76] on the subject. His review of the Centennial of AIChE was published by the Chemical Heritage Foundation in August 2008.[77]
Peppas is also an avid record collector and author of biographies and monographs on opera.[78] A book on the Greek tenor Vasso Argyris: The Great Greek Tenor of the Interwar Years was published in 2008.[79]
He has also written numerous biographies on Greek opera singers including the tenor of La Scala Nicola Filacuridi (1924-2009), the soprano of the Paris Opera Elen Dosia (1913-2002), the celebrated Greek tenor Michael Theodore (1939- ) who had a radio and record career in Germany, the lyric tenor Antonios Delendas (1902-1966), the celebrated Greek soprano of the Scala di Milano Rena Gary Falachi, (Rena Garyfallaki, 1920- ), the bass Petros Hoidas (1914-1977), the tenor of the Vienna State Opera Petros Baxevanos (1904-1982), the tenor of the Lyric Opera of Athens Nikos Hatzinikolaou (1929- ), the internationally known Greek singers Nicola Zaccaria (1923-2007), Nicola Moscona (1907-1975), Kostas Paskalis (1929-2007), Efthymios Mihalopoulos (1937- ), and Pavlos Raptis (1938- ) and many others.
^Peppas, N.A.; Lustig, S.R. (1985). "The Role of Crosslinks, Entanglements and Relaxations of the Macromolecular Carrier in the Diffusional Release of Biologically Active Materials: Conceptual and Scaling Relationships". Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 446: 26–41. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1985.tb18388.x. PMID3860156. S2CID6808615.
^Peppas, N.A.; Reinhart, C.T. (1983). "Solute diffusion in swollen membranes. Part I: A new theory". J. Membr. Sci. 15 (3): 275–287. doi:10.1016/s0376-7388(00)82304-2.
^Y Huang, W Leobandung, A Foss and N.A Peppas, Molecular aspects of muco- and bioadhesion: tethered structures and site-specific surfaces, J. Control. Release 65, 63–71 (2000)
^J.J. Sahlin and N.A. Peppas, Enhanced hydrogel adhesion by polymer interdiffusion: Use of linear poly(ethylene glycol) as an adhesion promoter, J. Biomat Sci, Polym Ed, 8, 421-436 (1997)
^Peppas, N. A. (1979). "Characterization of homogeneous and pseudocomposite homopolymers and copolymers for articular cartilage replacement". Biomaterials, Medical Devices, and Artificial Organs. 7 (3): 421–33. doi:10.3109/10731197909119388. PMID476258.
^Peppas, N.A.; Benner Jr, R.E. (1980). "Method of intracordal injection and gelation of poly (vinyl alcohol) solution in vocal cords". Biomaterials. 1 (3): 158–62. doi:10.1016/0142-9612(80)90039-3. PMID7470568.
^Mongia, N.K.; Anseth, K.S.; Peppas, N.A. (1996). "Mucoadhesive Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels Produced by Freezing/Thawing Processes: Applications in the Development of Wound Healing Systems". J. Biomat. Sci., Polym. Ed. 7 (12): 1055–1064. doi:10.1163/156856296x00543. PMID8880437.
^Korsmeyer, R.W.; Peppas, N.A. (1981). "Effect of the Morphology of Hydrophilic Polymeric Matrices on the Diffusion and Release of Water Soluble Drugs". J. Membr. Sci. 9 (3): 211–227. doi:10.1016/s0376-7388(00)80265-3.
^Gurny, R.; Peppas, N.A.; Harrington, D.D.; Banker, G.S. (1981). "Development of Biodegradable and Injectable Latices for Controlled Release of Potent Drugs". Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 7: 1–25. doi:10.3109/03639048109055684.
^Peppas, N. A. (31 January 1987). Hydrogels in Medn & PHARM Vol 2 (Hydrogels in Medicine & Pharmacy) (9780849355479): Nicholas A. Peppas: Books. CRC-Press. ISBN978-0849355479.
^Arzbaecher, R; Babb, A; Bailey, J; et al. (2002). "Voices of experience. Interview by Frederik Nebeker and Michael Geselowitz". IEEE Eng Med Biol Mag. 21 (3): 48–89. doi:10.1109/memb.2002.1016852. PMID12119875.