Oklahoma State University-Main Campus · BiologyVasquez Lab
Yolanda Vasquez · Stillwater, Oklahoma
Research Focus
Dr. Yolanda Vasquez leads a research lab at Oklahoma State University focused on developing innovative drug delivery systems for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The lab’s innovative approach uses gold nanoparticles to create targeted carriers for releasing methotrexate—a common treatment for RA—directly into affected joints. This method aims to enhance treatment effectiveness while minimizing side effects experienced with traditional systemic drug administration.
gold nanoparticlesdrug deliveryrheumatoid arthritisintra-articular injectionsanti-inflammatorynanocarriersmethotrexatecytotoxicityenvironmentally responsive linkers
Research Aims
5AIM 01Develop gold nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery to joints
AIM 02Examine the efficacy of gold nanoparticles in reducing inflammation
AIM 03Investigate the slow-release mechanisms of methotrexate using responsive linkers
AIM 04Analyze the impact of treatment on inflammatory markers in macrophage models
AIM 05Explore potential applications in improving rheumatoid arthritis therapies.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRcell culturein vitro experimentationanimal modelsnanoparticle synthesiscytokine assaysmacrophage cell line useanalytical chemistrybiomedical engineering
Output against the department
Publications35bottom 5% of dept.977th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.9kbottom 13% of dept.898th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.