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Publications

A selection of Professor Moghimi's publications. For a more extensive list of publications please visit Professor Moghimi's Google Scholar and ORCID pages

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Selected Publications

Nanomedicine-Complement Interaction & Infusion-Related Reactions

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  1. ​ Li, Y., Jacques, S., Gaikward, H., Nebbia, M., Banda, N. K., Holers, M., Tomlinson, S. A., Scheinman, R. I., Monte, A., Saba, L., Lasda, E., Hasselberth, J., Busquet, N., Zelek, W. M., Moghimi, S. M. and Simberg, D. (2025) Enhanced immunocompatibility and hemocompatability of nanomedicines across multiple species using complement pathway inhibitors, Science Advances 11: eadw1731.

  2. Tavano, R., Morillas-Becerril, L., Gheffner Smith, A., Ronzani, G., Gervasutti, R., Arrigoni, G., Battisti, I., Morbidelli, M., Polverino de Laureto, P., Palazzi, L., Natale, A., Schiavon, E., Coin, P., Benetti, E. M., Romio, M., Corzana, F., Jiménez, E., Sturlese, M., Bolcato, G., Moro, S., Moghimi, S. M., Mancin, F. and Papini, E. (2025) Species-disparity and sensitivity differences in opsonisation and phagocyte recognition of poly-2-alkyl-2-oxazoline-coated nanoparticles, Nature Communications 16: 2642.

  3. Li, Y., Saba, L., Scheinman, R. I., Banda, N. K., Holers, M., Monte, A., Dylla, L., Moghimi, S. M. and Simberg, D. (2024) Nanoparticle-binding immunoglobulins predict variable complement responses in healthy and diseased cohorts, ACS Nano 18: 28649–28658.

  4. Li, Y., Jacques, S., Gaikwad, H., Wang, G., Banda, N. K., Holers, V. M., Scheinman, R. I., Tomlinson, S., Moghimi, S. M. and Simberg, D. (2024) Inhibition of acute complement responses towards bolus-injected nanoparticles using targeted short-circulating regulatory proteins, Nature Nanotechnology 19: 246–254.

  5. Wu, L-P., Ficker, M., Christensen, J. B., Simberg, D., Trohopoulos, P. N., and Moghimi, S. M. (2021) Dendrimer end-terminal motif-dependent evasion of human complement and complement activation through IgM hitchhiking, Nature Communications 12:4858.

  6. Pannuzzo, M., Esposito, S., Wu, L-P., Key, J., Aryal, S., Celia, C., di Marzio, L., Moghimi, S. M. and Decuzzi, P. (2020) Overcoming nanoparticle-mediated complement activation by surface PEG-pairing, Nano Letters 20: 4312–4321.

  7. Vu, V. P., Chen, F., Benasutti, H., Wang, G., Gifford, G. B., Groman, E. V., Scheinman, R., Saba, L., Moghimi, S. M. and Simberg, D. (2019) Immunoglobulin deposition on biomolecule corona determines complement opsonisation efficiency of preclinical and clinical nanopharmaceuticals, Nature Nanotechnology 14: 260–268.

  8. Tavano, R., Gabrielli, L., Lubian, E., Fedeli, C., Visentin, S., De Laureto, P. P., Arrigoni, G., Geffner-smith, A., Chen, F., Simberg, D., Morgese, G., Benetti, E. M., Wu, L., Moghimi, S. M., Mancin, F., Papini, E. (2018) C1q-mediated complement activation and C3 opsonization trigger recognition of stealth poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline)-coated silica nanoparticles by human phagocytes, ACS Nano 12: 5834–5847.  

  9. Wibro, P. P., Anselmo, A. C., Nilsson, P., Sarode, A., Gupta, V., Urbanics, R., Szebeni, J., Hunter, A. C., Mitragotri, S., Mollnes, T. E.  and Moghimi, S. M. (2017) By-passing injection reactions to nanoparticles through shape modification and attachment to erythrocyte, Nature Nanotechnology 12: 589–594.

  10. Wibroe, P. P., Petersen, S. V., Bovet, N., Laursen, B. W. and Moghimi, S. M. (2016) Soluble and immobilized graphene oxide activates the complement differently dependent on surface oxidation state, Biomaterials 78: 20–26.

  11. Wibroe, P., Ahmadvand, D., Oghabian, M. A., Yaghmur, A. and Moghimi, S. M. (2016) An integrated assessment of morphology, size, and complement activation of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin products Doxilâ, Caelyxâ, DOXOrubicin, and SinaDoxosome, Journal of Controlled Release 221: 1–8.

  12. Whitehead, B., Wu, L-P., Hvam, M. L., Aslan, H., Dong, M., Dyrskjøt, L., Ostenfeld, M. S., Moghimi, S. M. and Howard, K. A. (2015). Tumour exosomes display differential mechanical and complement activation properties dependent on malignant state: implications in endothelial leakiness, Journal of Extracellular Vesicles 4: 29685

  13. Wibroe, P. P., Azmi, I. D. M., Nilsson, C., Yaghmur, A. and Moghimi, S. M. (2015) Citrem modulates internal nanostructure of glyceryl monooleate dispersions and bypasses complement activation: towards development of safe tunable intravenous nanocarriers, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 11: 1909–1914.

  14. Andersen, A. J., Robinson, J. T., Dai, H., Hunter, A. C., Andresen, T. L. and Moghimi, S. M. (2013) Single-walled carbon nanotubes surface control of complement sensing and activation, ACS Nano 7: 1108–1119.

  15. Hamad, I., Hunter, A. C. and Moghimi, S. M. (2013) Complement activation by Pluronic 127 gel and micelles: suppression of copolymer-mediated complement activation by elevated serum levels of HDL, LDL, and apolipoproteins A-I and B-100, Journal of Controlled Release 170: 167–174.

  16. Hamad, I., Al- Hanbali, O., Hunter, A. C., Rutt, K. J., Andresen, T. L. and Moghimi, S. M. (2010) Distinct polymer architecture mediates switching of complement activation pathways at nanosphere-serum interface: implications for stealth nanoparticles engineering, ACS Nano 4: 6629–6638.

  17. Hamad, I., Hunter, A. C., Szebeni, J. and Moghimi, S. M. (2008) Poly(ethylene glycol)s generate complement activation products in human serum through increased alternative pathway turnover and a MASP-2-dependent process, Molecular Immunology 46: 225–232.

  18. Moghimi, S. M., Hamad, I., Andresen, T. L., Jørgensen, K. and Szebeni, J. (2006) Methylation of the phosphate oxygen moiety of phospholipid-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) conjugate prevents PEGylated liposome-mediated complement activation and anaphylatoxin production, FASEB Journal 20: 2591–2593 (Full text: doi: 10.1096/fj.06-6186fje, electronic pages E2057–E2067).

  19. Moghimi, S. M., Hunter, A. C., Dadswell, C. M., Savey, S., Alving, C. R., and Szebeni, J. (2004) Causative factors behind poloxamer 188 (Pluronic F68, Flocor™)-induced complement activation in human sera. A protective role against poloxamer-mediated complement activation by elevated levels of lipoproteins, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Molecular Basis of Disease 1689: 103–113.

  20. Gbadamosi, J. K., Hunter, A. C. and Moghimi, S. M. (2002) PEGylation of microspheres generates a heterogeneous population of particles with differential surface characteristics and biological performance, FEBS Letters 523: 338–344.

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Biological Applications of Nanoparticle Engineering

  1. Bor, G., Lin, J.-H., Lin, K.-Y., Chen, H.-C., Prajnamitra, R. P., Salentinig, S., Hsieh, P. C. H., Moghimi, S. M. and Yaghmur, A. (2022) PEGylation of phosphatidylglycerol/docosahexaenoic acid hexosomes with D-a-tocopheryl succinate poly(ethylene glycol)2000 induces morphological transformation into vesicles with prolonged circulation times, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 14: 48449–48463.

  2. Gaikward, H., Li, Y., Wang, G., Li, R., Dai, S., Rester, C., Kedl, R., Saba, L., Banda, N. K., Schienman, R. I., Patrick, C., Mallela, K., Moghimi, S. M. and Simberg, D. (2022) Antibody-dependent complement responses toward SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain immobilized on “pseudovirus-like” nanoparticles, ACS Nano 30: 2109–2110.

  3. Tagalakis, A. D., Jayarajan, V., Maeshima, R., Ho, K. H., Syed, F., Wu, L-P., Aldossary, A. M., Munye, M. M., Mistry, T., Ogunbiyi, O. K., Sala, A., Standing, J. F., Moghimi, S. M., Stoker, A. W. and Hart, S. L. (2021) Integrin-targeted, short interfering RNA nanocomplexes for neuroblastoma tumour-specific delivery achieve MYCN silencing with improved survival, Advanced Functional Materials 31: 2104843.

  4. Wu, L-P., Ahmadvand, D., SU, J., Hall, A., Tan, X., Farhangrazi, Z. S. and Moghimi, S. M. (2019) Crossing the blood-brain barrier with nanoligand drug carriers self-assembled from a phage display peptide, Nature Communications 10: 4635.

  5. Nikoshtinat, S., Rahbarizadeh, F., Ahmadvand, D. and Moghimi, S. M. (2018) Multivalent targeting and killing of HER2 overexpressing breast carcinoma cells with methotrexate-encapsulated tetra-specific non-overlapping variable domain heavy chain anti-HER2 antibody-PEG-liposomes:  in vitro proof-of-concept, European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 122: 42–50.

  6. Ordóñez-Gutiérrez, L., Posado-Fernández, A., Ahmadvand, D., Lettiero, B., Wu, L. P., Antón, M., Flores, O., Moghimi, S. M. and Wandosell, F. (2017) ImmunoPEGliposome-mediated reduction of blood and brain amyloid levels in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease is restricted to aged animals, Biomaterials 112: 141–152.

  7. L-P. Wu, Mejlsoe, Ficker, M., Hall, A., Paolucci, V., Christensen, J. B., Trohopoulos, P. N. and Moghimi, S. M. (2017) Poly-(amidoamine) dendrimers with a precisely core positioned sulforhodamine B molecule for comparative biological tracing and profiling, Journal of  Controlled Release 246: 88–97.

  8. Azmi, I. D. M., Wibroe, P. P., Wu, L-P., Kazem, A. I., Amenitsch, H., Moghimi, S. M. and Yaghmur, A. (2016) A structurally diverse library of safe-by-design citrem-phospholipid lamellar and non-lamellar liquid crystalline nano-assemblies, Journal of Controlled Release 239: 1–9.

  9. Ordonez-Gutierrez, L., Re, F., Bereczki, E., Ioja, E., Andersen, A. J., Moghimi, S. M., Pei, J-J., Masserini, M. and Wandosell, F. (2015) Repeated intraperitoneal injection of phosphatidic acid- and cardiolipin-containing liposomes reduces b-amyloid levels in APP/PS1transgenic mice, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 11: 421–430.

  10. Wu, L-P., Wang, D., Parhamifar, L., Hull, A., Chen, G-Q. and Moghimi, S. M. (2014) Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-R-3-hydroxyhexanoate) nanoparticles with polyethylenimine coat as simple, safe and versatile vehicles for cell targeting: population characteristics, cell uptake and intracellular trafficking, Advanced Healthcare Materials 3: 817–824.

  11. Brambilla, D., Verpillot, R., Le Droumaguet, B., Nicolas, J., Taverna, M., Kona, J., Lettiero, B., Hashemi, S. H., De Kimpe, L., Canovi, M., Gobbi, M., Nicolas, V., Scheper, W., Moghimi, S. M., Tvaroska, I., Couvreur, P. and Andrieux, K. (2012) PEGylated nanoparticles bind to and alter amyloid-beta peptide conformation: towards engineering of functional nanomedicines for Alzheimer’s disease, ACS Nano 6: 5897–5908.

  12. Moghimi, S. M. and Moghimi, M. (2008) Enhanced lymph node retention of subcutaneously injected IgG-PEG-liposomes through pentameric IgM antibody-mediated vesicular aggregation, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Biomembanes 1778: 51–55.

  13. Mukhopadhyay, R., Al-Hanbali, O., Pillai, S., Hemmersam, A. G., Meyer, R. L., Hunter, A. C., Rutt, K. J., Besenbacher, F., Moghimi, S. M. and Kingshott, P. (2007) Ordering of binary polymeric nanoparticles on hydrophobic surfaces assembled from low volume fraction dispersions, Journal of the American Chemical Society 129: 13390–13391.

  14. Moghimi, S. M. (2006) The effect of methoxyPEG chain length and molecular architecture on lymph node targeting of immuno-PEG-liposomes, Biomaterials 27: 136–144.

  15. Moghimi, S. M., Hunter, A. C., Murray, J. C. and Szewczyk, A. (2004) Cellular distribution of nonionic micelles, Science 303: 626–627.

  16. Moghimi, S. M. (2003) Modulation of lymphatic distribution of subcutaneously injected poloxamer 407-coated nanospheres: the effect of ethylene oxide chain configuration, FEBS Letters 540: 241–244.

  17. Gbadamosi, J. K., Hunter, A. C. and Moghimi, S. M. (2002) PEGylation of microspheres generates a heterogeneous population of particles with differential surface characteristics and biological performance, FEBS Letters 523: 338–344.

  18. Moghimi, S. M. (2002) Chemical camouflage of nanospheres with a poorly reactive surface: towards development of stealth and target-specific nanocarriers, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Molecular Cell Research 1590: 131–139.

  19. Laverman, P., Carstens, M. G., Storm, G. and Moghimi, S. M. (2001) Recognition and clearance of methoxypoly(ethyleneglycol)2000-grafted liposomes by liver and spleen macrophages with enhanced phagocytic capacity. Implications in experimental and clinical oncology, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-General Subjects 1526: 227–229.

  20. Moghimi, S. M. and Gray, T. (1997) A single intravenous dose of poloxamine-based long-circulating nanospheres triggers macrophage clearance of subsequent doses in rats, Clinical Science (London) 93: 371–379.

  21. Moghimi, S. M., Hawley, A. E., Christy, N. M., Gray, T., Illum, L. and Davis, S. S. (1994) Surface engineered nanospheres with enhanced drainage into lymphatics and uptake by macrophages of lymph nodes, FEBS Letters 344: 25–30.

  22. Moghimi, S. M., Hedeman, H., Christy, N. M., Illum, L. and Davis, S. S. (1993) Enhanced hepatic clearance of intravenously administered sterically-stabilized microspheres in zymosan stimulated rats, Journal of Leukocyte Biology 54: 513–517.

  23. Moghimi, S. M., Hedeman, H., Muir, I. S., Illum, L. and Davis, S. S. (1993) An investigation of the filtration capacity and the fate of large filtered sterically-stabilized microspheres in rat spleen, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-General Subjects 1157: 233–240.

  24. Moghimi, S. M., Muir, I. S. Illum, L., Davis, S. S. and Kolb-Bachofen, V. (1993) Coating particles with a block co-polymer (poloxamine-908) suppresses opsonization but permits the activity of dysopsonins in the serum, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Molecular Cell Research 1179: 157–165.

  25. Porter, C. J. H., Moghimi, S. M., Illum, L., Davis, S. S. (1992) The polyoxyethylene/ polyoxypropylene block co-polymer poloxamer-407 selectively redirects intravenously injected microspheres to sinusoidal endothelial cells of rabbit bone marrow, FEBS Letters 68: 121–126.

  26. Moghimi, S. M., Porter, C. J. H., Muir, I. S., Illum, L. and Davis, S. S. (1991) Non-phagocytic uptake of intravenously injected microspheres in rat spleen: Influence of particle size and hydrophilic coating, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 177: 861–866.

  27. Moghimi, S. M. and Patel, H. M. (1989) Serum opsonins and phagocytosis of saturated and unsaturated phospholipid liposomes, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Biomembranes 984: 384–387.

Non-Viral Gene Delivery & Therapy

  1. ​Hall, A., Bartek, J., Wagner, E., Lächelt, U. and Moghimi, S. M. (2023) High-resolution bioenergetics correlate the length of continuous protonatable diaminoethane motif of four-armed oligo(ethanamino)amide transfectants to cytotoxicity, Journal of Controlled Release 361: 115–129.

  2. Wu, L-P., Ahmadvand, D., SU, J., Hall, A., Tan, X., Farhangrazi, Z. S. and Moghimi, S. M. (2019) Crossing the blood-brain-barrier with nanoligand drug carriers self-assembled from a phage display peptide, Nature Communications 10: 4635.

  3. Andersen, H., Parhamifar, L., Roursgaard, M., Wösten, A. M., V. Shahin and Moghimi, S. M. (2016) AFM visualization of sub-50 nm polyplex disposition to the nuclear pore complex without compromising the integrity of the nuclear envelope, Journal of Controlled Release 244: 24–29.

  4. Benjaminsen, R. V., Mattebjerg, M. A., Henriksen, J. R., Moghimi, S. M. and Andresen, T. L. (2013) The possible ‘proton-sponge’ effect of polyethylenimine does not include change in lysosomal pH, Molecular Therapy 21: 149–157.

  5. Hall, A., Parhamifar, L., Krarup Lange, M., Meyle, K. D., Sanderhoff, M., Roursgaard, M., Larsen, A. K., Andersen, H., Jensen, P. B., Bartek, J. and Moghimi, S. M. (2015) Polyethylenimine architecture-dependent metabolic imprints and perturbation of cellular redox homeostasis, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta–Bioenergetics 1847: 328–342.

  6. Hall, A., Larsen, A. K., Parhamifar, L., Myele, K. D., Wu, L-P., Moghimi, S. M. (2013) High resolution respirometry analysis of polyethylenimine-mediated mitochondrial energy crisis and cellular stress: mitochondrial proton leak and the inhibition of electron transport, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta–Bioenergetics 1827: 1213–1225.

  7. Moghimi, S. M., Symonds, P., Murray, J. C., Hunter, A. C., Debska, G. and Szewczyk, A. (2005) A two-stage poly(ethylenimine)-mediated cytotoxicity: implications for gene-transfer/therapy, Molecular  Therapy 11: 990–995.

CAR T-Cell Bioengineering

  1. ​Rahimi Jamnani, F., Shokrgozar, M. A., Ahmadvand, D., Mahboudi, F., Rahbrizadeh, F., Parhamifar, L. and Moghimi, S. M. (2014) T cells expressing VHH-directed oligoclonal chimeric HER2 antigen receptors: towards tumour-directed oligoclonal T cell therapy, Biochimica Biophysica Acta–General Subjects 1840: 378–386.

  2. Sharifzadeh, Z., Rahbarizadeh, F., Shokrgozar, M. A., Ahmadvand, D., Mahboudi, F., Rahimi Jamnani, F. and Moghimi, S. M. (2013) Genetically engineered cytotoxic T cells bearing nanoconstructed chimeric receptors harbouring TAG-72-specific camelid single domain antibodies as targeting agents, Cancer Letters 334: 237–244.

Topical Reviews, Opinions & Letters

  1. Farhangrazi, Z. S. and Moghimi, S. M. (2026) To help children with rare diseases, we must solve drug delivery, Nature 655: S11.

  2. Haroon, H. B., Simberg, D. and Moghimi, S. M. (2026) From nanoparticle-protein to nanoparticle-complement interactions, Nano Today 70: 103101

  3. Moghimi, S. M. and Simberg, D. (2025) Nanomedicine-lipoprotein interactions, Nature Reviews Bioengineering 3: 435–437.

  4. Simberg, D., Barenholz, Y.,  Landfester, K., Roffler, S., Kabanov, A. V. and Moghimi, S. M. (2025) PEGylation technology: Addressing problems, moving forward, Drug Delivery 32: 2494775.

  5. Anchordoquy, T., Artzi, N., Balyasnikova, I. V., Barenholz, Y., La-Beck, N. M., Brenner, J. S., Chan, W. C. W., Decuzzi, P., Exner, A. A., Gabizon, A., Godin, B., Lai, S. K., Lammers, T., Mitchell, M. J., Moghimi, S. M., Muzykantov, V. R., Peer, D., Nguyen, J., Popovtzer, R., Ricco, M., Serkova, N. J., Singh, R., Schroeder, A., Schwendeman, A., Straehla, J. P., Teesalu, T., Tilden, S. and Simberg, D. (2024) Mechanisms and barriers in nanomedicine: progress in the field and future directions, ACS Nano 18: 13983–13999.

  6. Yazdanpanah, N., Sedikides, C., Ochs, H. D., Camargo Jr., C. A., Darmstadt, G. L., Cerda, A., Cauda, V., Peters, G. J., Sellke, F., Wong, N. D., Comini, E., Jimeno, A. R., Glover, V., Hatziargyriou, N., Vincenot, C. E., Bordas, S. P. A., Rao, I. M., Abolhassani, H., Gharepetian, G. B., Weiskirchen, R., Gupta, M., Chandel, S. S., Olusanya, B. O., Cheson, B., Pomponio, A., Tanzer, M., Myles, P. S., Ma, W.-X., Bella, F., Ghavami, S., Moghimi, S. M., Pratico, D., Hernandez, A. M., Martinez-Urbistondo, M., Urbistondo, D. M., Fereshtehnejad, S.-M., Ali, I., Kimura, S., Hayes, A. W., Cai, W., Ernest, C. K. J., Thomas, S., Rahimi, K., Sorooshian, A., Schreiber, M., Kato, K., Luong, J. H. T., Pluchino, S., Lozano, A. M., Seymour, J. F., Kosik, K. S., Hofmann, S. G., McIntyre, R. S., Perc, M., Leemans, A., Klein, R. S., Ogino, S., Wlezien, C., Perry, G., Nieto, J. J., Levin, L., Klionsky, D. J., Mobasher, B., Dorigo, T., Rezaei, N. and USERN Advisory Board (2024) Global challenges after a global challenge: Lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 1457: 1–31.

  7. Yaghmur, A. and Moghimi, S. M. (2023) Intrinsic and dynamic heterogeneity of nonlamellar lyotropic liquid crystalline nanodispersions, ACS Nano 17: 22183–22195.

  8. Moghimi, S. M., Haroon, H. B., Yaghmur, A., Hunter, A. C., Papini, E., Farhangrazi, Z. S., Simberg, D. and Trohopoulos, P. N. (2023) Perspectives on complement and phagocytic cell responses to nanoparticles: From fundamentals to adverse reactions, Journal of Controlled Release 356: 115–129.

  9. Haroon, H. B., Hunter, A. C., Farhangrazi, Z. S. and Moghimi, S. M. (2022) A brief history of long circulating nanoparticles, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 188: 114396.

  10. Moghimi, S. M. (2022) The use of ‘nano’ prefix is no small matter, Nature 603: 228.

  11. Moghimi, S. M. (2022) Pro-inflammatory concerns with lipid nanoparticles, Molecular Therapy 30: 2109–2110.

  12. Moghimi, S. M., Haroon, H. B., Yaghmur, A., Simberg, D. and Trohopoulos, P. (2022) Nanometer- and angstrom-scale characteristics that modulate complement responses to nanoparticles, Journal of Controlled Release 351: 432–443.

  13. Moghimi, S. M. and Simberg, D. (2022) Critical issues and pitfalls in serum and plasma handling for complement analysis in nanomedicine and bionanotechnology, Nano Today 44: 101479.

  14. Moghimi, S. M. (2021) Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis to LNP-based COVID-19 vaccines, Molecular Therapy 29: 898–900.

  15. Moghimi, S. M. and Z. S. Farhangrazi (2020) A rally for brain targeting: the advent of a new era, Therapeutic Delivery 11: 465–470.

  16. Leong, H. S., Butler, K. S., Brinker, C. J., Azzawi, M., Conlan, S., Dufés, C., Owen, A., Rannard, S., Scott, C., Chen, C., Dobrovolskaia, M. A., Kozlov, S. V., Prina-Mello, A., Schmid, R., Wick, P., Caputo, F., Boisseau, P., Crist, R. M., McNeil, S. E., Fadeel, B., Tran, L., Hansen, S. F., Hartmann, N. B., Clausen, L. P. W., Skjolding, L. M., Baun, A., Ågerstrand, M., Gu, Z., Lamprou, D. A., Hoskins, C., Huang, L., Song, W., Cao, H., Liu, X., Jandt, K. D., Jiang, W., Kim, B. Y. S., Wheeler, K. E., Chetwynd, A. J., Lynch, I., Moghimi, S. M., Nel, A., Xia, T., Weiss, P. S., Sarmento, B., das Neves, J., Santos, H. A., Santos, L., Mitragotri, S., Little, S., Peer, D., Amiji, M. M., Alonso, M. J., Petri-Fink, A., Balog, S., Lee, A., Drasler, B., Rothen-Rutishauser, B., Wilhelm, S., Acar, H., Harrison, R. G., Mao, C., Mukherjee, P., Ramesh, R., McNally, L. R., Busatto, S., Wolfram, J., Bergese, P., Ferrari, M., Fang, R. H., Zhang, L., Zheng, J., Peng, C., Du, B., Yu, M., Charron, D. M., Zheng, G. and Pastore, C. (2019) On the issue of transparency and reproducibility in nanomedicine, Nature Nanotechnology 14: 629–635.

  17. Rahbarizadeh, F., Ahmadvand, D. and Moghimi, S. M. (2019) CAR T-cell bioengineering: single domain of heavy chain antibody targeted CARs, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 141: 41–46.

  18. Moghimi, S. M. and Howard, K. A. (2018) Targeting biological barriers: turning a wall into a therapeutic springboard, Molecular Therapy 26: 933–934.

  19. Moghimi, S. M. (2018) Nanomedicine safety in preclinical and clinical development: focus on idiosyncratic injection/infusion reactions, Drug Discovery Today 23: 1034–1042.

  20. Boraschi, D., Italiani, P., Palomba, R., Decuzzi, P., Duschl, A., Fadeel, B. and Moghimi, S. M. (2017) Nanoparticles and innate immunity: new perspectives on host defence, Seminars in Immunology 34: 33–51.

  21. Hall, U. Lächelt, J. Bartek, E. Wagner and S. M. Moghimi (2017) Polyplex evolution: understanding biology, optimizing performance, Molecular Therapy 25: 1476–1490.

  22. Anchordoquy, T., Barenholz, Y., Boraschi, D., Chorny, M., Decuzzi, P., Debrovolskaia, M., Farhangrazi, Z. S., Farrell, D., Gabizon, A., Ghandehari, H. R., Godin, B., La-Beck, N. H., Ljubimova, J., Moghimi, S. M., Pagliano, L., Park, J-H., Peer, D., Ruoslahti, E., Serkova N. J. and Simberg, D. (2017) Mechanisms and barriers in anti-cancer nanomedicine: addressing challenges, looking for solutions, ACS Nano 11: 12–18.

  23. Azmi, I. D. M., Moghimi, S. M. and Yaghmur, A. (2015) Cubosomes and hexosomes as versatile platforms for drug delivery, Therapeutic Delivery 6: 1347–1364.

  24. Wu, L-P., Ficker, M., Christensen, J. B., Trohopoulos, P. N. and Moghimi, S. M. (2015) Dendrimers in medicine: therapeutic concepts and pharmaceutical challenges, Bioconjugate Chemistry 26: 1198–1211.

  25. Moghimi, S. M., Wibroe, P. P., Helvig, S., Farhangrazi, Z. S. and Hunter, A. C. (2012) Genomic perspectives in inter-individual adverse responses following nanomedicine administration: the way forward, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 64: 1385–1393.

  26. Hunter, A. C., Elsom, J., Wibroe, P. P. and Moghimi, S. M. (2012) Polymeric particulate technologies for oral drug delivery and targeting: a pathophysiological perspective, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 8: S5–S20.

  27. Moghimi, S. M., Peer, D. and Langer, R. (2011) Re-shaping the future of nanopharmaceuticals: ad iudicium, ACS Nano 5: 8454–8458.

  28. Brambilla, D., Le Droumaguet, B., Nicolas, J., Hashemi, S. H., Wu, L-P., Moghimi, S. M., Couvreur, P. and Andrieux, K. (2011) Nanotechnologies for Alzheimer’s disease: diagnosis, therapy and safety issues, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 7: 5215–40.

  29. Moghimi, S. M., Andersen, A., Ahmadvand, D., Wibroe, P. P., Hunter, A. C. and T. L. Andresen (2011) Material properties in complement activation, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 63: 1000–1007.

  30. Parhamifar, L., Larsen, A. K., Hunter, A. C., Andresen, T. and Moghimi, S. M. (2010) Polycation cytotoxicity: a delicate matter for nucleic acid therapy―Focus on poly(ethylenimine), Soft Matter 6: 4001–4009. 

  31. Moghimi, S. M., Hunter, A. C. and Murray, J. C. (2005) Nanomedicine: current status and future prospects, FASEB Journal 19: 311–330.

  32. Moghimi, S. M. and Szebeni, J. (2003) Stealth liposomes and nanoparticles: critical issues on protein-binding properties, activation of proteolytic blood cascades and intracellular fate, Progress in Lipid Research 42: 463–478.

  33. Moghimi, S. M. and Hunter, A. C. (2001) Recognition by macrophages and liver cells of opsonized phospholipid vesicles and phospholipid headgroups, Pharmaceutical Research (The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists) 18: 1–8.

  34. Moghimi, S. M. and Hunter, A. C. (2001) Capture of ‘stealth’ nanoparticles by body’s defences, Critical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems 18: 527–550.

  35. Moghimi, S. M., Hunter, A. C. and Murray, J.C. (2001) Long circulating and target-specific nanoparticles: theory to practice, Pharmacological Reviews 53: 283–318.

Highlighted Paper:  A two-stage poly(ethylenimine)-mediated cytotoxicity: implications for gene transfer/therapy

Published in Molecular Therapy in 2005, Professor Moghimi’s landmark study challenged prevailing assumptions about the safety of polyethylenimine, then one of the most widely used non-viral gene-delivery materials. The research revealed two distinct mechanisms of cellular injury: rapid damage to the plasma membrane followed by delayed, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. The findings changed understanding of polycation toxicity and helped stimulate the development of safer gene-delivery systems. It became one of the most-cited papers published in Molecular Therapy and was subsequently recognised by Cell Press as one of seven classic papers reflecting major advances in gene and cell therapy. Moghimi SM, Symonds P, Murray JC, Hunter AC, Debska G and Szewczyk A, A two-stage poly(ethylenimine)-mediated cytotoxicity: implications for gene transfer/therapy, Molecular Therapy (2005) 11:990–995.

Highlighted Paper: Long-circulating and target-specific nanoparticles: theory to practice

Published in Pharmacological Reviews in 2001, “Long-circulating and target-specific nanoparticles: theory to practice” became a foundational and highly cited work in advanced drug delivery. Professor Moghimi and his co-authors examined how surface engineering, interactions with blood proteins and evasion of macrophage recognition determine nanoparticle circulation and targeting. Drawing inspiration from the long circulatory life of red blood cells and the immune-evasion strategies of microorganisms, the paper connected fundamental biology with the rational design of nanospheres, liposomes, micelles and other therapeutic carriers. Its principles continue to inform the development of long-circulating and target-specific medicines.   Moghimi SM, Hunter AC and Murray JC, Long-circulating and target-specific nanoparticles: theory to practice, Pharmacological Reviews (2001) 53:283–318

Highlighted Paper: Crossing the blood–brain barrier with nanoligand drug carriers self-assembled from a phage-display peptide

Published in Nature Communications in 2019, this landmark study introduced NanoLigand Carriers™—a unique self-assembling, non-viral peptidic platform engineered to target and engage two endogenous transport receptors at the blood–brain barrier: the transferrin receptor and the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE). The work provided the first demonstration of RAGE being harnessed in this way for brain delivery. Following intravenous administration, the carriers reached the brain within approximately 15 minutes, crossed into the brain parenchyma and targeted neurons and microglial cells. The study further demonstrated functional delivery of BACE1-targeting siRNA and gene suppression in the brain, establishing a fundamentally new approach to the rapid, systemic and non-viral delivery of genetic medicines and other therapeutic payloads across the blood–brain barrier and with unprecedented safety. Wu L-P, Ahmadvand D, Su J, Hall A, Tan X, Farhangrazi ZS and Moghimi SM, Crossing the blood–brain barrier with nanoligand drug carriers self-assembled from a phage-display peptide, Nature Communications (2019) 10:4635. 

Highlighted Paper: Dendrimer end-terminal motif-dependent evasion of human complement and complement activation through IgM hitchhiking

Published in Nature Communications in 2021, this pioneering study demonstrated that the immune system can distinguish structural features at the Ångström scale—the dimensions of individual atoms and chemical bonds. Professor Moghimi and his collaborators showed that the precise spacing and organisation of terminal motifs on dendrimers determine whether they evade complement surveillance or activate complement through IgM hitchhiking. The work introduced the Ångström-Scale Spacing Arrangement principle, revealing that immune recognition depends not only on which chemical groups are present on a nanomaterial, but also on the exact distance and spatial relationship between them. This discovery established a new molecular design principle for engineering complement-safe nanomedicines and medical devices. Wu L-P, Ficker M, Christensen JB, Simberg D, Trohopoulos PN and Moghimi SM, Dendrimer end-terminal motif-dependent evasion of human complement and complement activation through IgM hitchhiking, Nature Communications (2021) 12:4858.

© 2026 Professor Moein Moghimi

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