Kazuto Watanabe

Qualification

Ph.D. (Engineering)

Practice Areas

Patent
Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Software/Chemical, Materials Science/Biotechnology

Education

Ph.D. in Engineering, Graduate School of Systems Life Sciences Kyushu University
Bachelor of Engineering, Department of Applied Chemistry, Kyushu University

Work Experience

Dr. Watanabe received his Doctor of Engineering degree at Kyushu University in 2012.
He was engaged in semiconductor process material development and pharmaceutical development.

Research Content
Throughout his doctoral studies, he researched in a laboratory specializing in pharmaceutical science and analytical chemistry. His focus was the development of drug delivery systems using amino acid dendrimers as functional drug carriers. He reported the results of non-clinical pharmacokinetic studies using molecularly labeled formulations, which effectively retained nucleic acid therapeutics, and demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in liver disease models [1, 2]. Additionally, he explored the potential of the carrier as a high-sensitivity MRI contrast agent based on the Overhauser effect. By analyzing mass spectra and electron spin resonance spectra, he optimized conditions for functional molecule modification on the carrier and verified the potential for MR contrast enhancement [3].

[1] Y. Sugao, et al., NFkappaB decoy delivery using dendritic poly(l-lysine) for treatment of endotoxin-induced hepatitis in mice, Bioorg. Med. Chem. 14, 4990 (2009)
[2] K. Watanabe et al., In vivo siRNA delivery with dendritic poly(L-lysine) for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, Mol. Biosyst. 5, 1306 (2009)
[3] T. Niidome, et al., Nitroxyl radicals-modified dendritic poly(l-lysine) as a contrast agent for Overhauser-enhanced MRI, J. Biomater. Sci. Polym. Ed. 25, 1425 (2014)