Xiguo He becomes the first PhD graduate from UAC’s second cohort

Our center is proud to celebrate the defense of Xiguo He, the first PhD student from our second cohort to complete her doctoral studies. Her thesis explores liquid crystal nanoparticles as a new strategy for oral antibiotic delivery, addressing one of the major challenges in the development of antibiotics. Xiguo carried out her work under the supervision of Madlen Hubert and Christel Bergström, with support from UAC and SweDeliver.

Tackling barriers in oral antibiotic delivery

Xiguo’s research focused on one urgent question: how can we enable oral delivery of antibiotics that today must be given intravenously?

She highlighted that many antibiotics struggle with low stability, solubility, and permeability in the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to poor absorption and higher dosing needs, which increases the risk of resistance and disrupts the gut microbiota. Her work explored whether liquid crystal nanoparticles could offer a more stable, effective, and patient-friendly delivery platform.

Four interconnected projects

Across four studies, Xiguo examined the potential of these nanoparticles from multiple angles.

Engineering combination therapy nanoparticles: She designed lipid-based nanoparticles capable of carrying both hydrophilic and hydrophobic antibiotics. Her results showed promising stability in simulated intestinal conditions and suggested that these formulations could reduce unnecessary exposure of gut bacteria.

Understanding drug–nanoparticle interactions: Using molecular simulations, Xiguo and collaborators mapped how antibiotics distribute within the nanoparticle structures. The work revealed unexpected localization patterns, helping explain the drug-release profiles observed in earlier experiments.

Studying cellular uptake mechanism: She compared how non-lamellar nanoparticles and traditional liposomes enter model intestinal cells. The non-lamellar particles showed higher uptake and a mixed set of internalization pathways, supporting their potential to enhance oral absorption.

Exploring 3D-printed solid dosage forms: In collaboration with colleagues in 3D printing, Xiguo integrated the nanoparticles into printable tablets. The tablets maintained their internal structure after drying and rehydration, opening the door to future manufacturing approaches and dose-flexible formulations.

A strong contribution to AMR-focused pharmaceutical research

Together, these studies demonstrate a clear path toward new oral antibiotic technologies. Xiguo’s work provides both fundamental insights and practical tools for translating lipid-based nanoparticle systems into patient-friendly treatments. Her defense marks an important milestone for UAC, highlighting the collaborative and interdisciplinary research fostered within the center.

We congratulate Xiguo for a successful defense and an impressive body of work. Her research reflects the ambition and commitment of UAC’s second PhD cohort, and we look forward to seeing the next steps in her scientific journey!