Dr. Edgar focuses on the synthesis, analysis, and structure-property-performance evaluation of polysaccharide derivatives. He has particular interest in the creation of novel drug-delivery systems based on polysaccharide derivatives, in order to address critical patient needs. He is interested in novel methods to control and utilize the microstructure of polysaccharides and derivatives. His research also addresses the broad and vital issue of identifying novel, high value biomaterials from biomass, and viable processes for their preparation. He is Associate Director for Research Initiatives in the Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute (MII), is an active member of the Institute for Critical Technologies and Applied Science (ICTAS) and serves on its Faculty Advisory Board, and is a member of the Wood-Based Composites Center (WBC) and the Sustainable Engineered Materials Insitute (SEMI). Dr. Edgar leads the Bio-based Materials and Processing Group under ICTAS.
Dr. Edgar moved to Virginia Tech in 2007 from Eastman Chemical Company, where he was a Technology Fellow focusing on cellulose ester chemistry, drug delivery, and the creation of technology portfolios and organizations to support new business initiatives.
Creation of drug delivery systems to meet patient needs
Bioavailability enhancement
Synthesis of novel polysaccharide derivatives
Chemistry of cellulose and its derivatives
Polysaccharide chemistry
Structure-property-performance relationships of biomaterials and derivatives
Biomass conversion to high value biomaterials
Proposals Funded
Enhanced Delivery of Phytochemicals by Nanodispersion in Polysaccharide Matrices
Investigator(s): K.J. Edgar, L.S. Taylor, L.J. Mauer
Sponsor: USDA
Amount: $405K
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2011
Bio-Based Materials Center
Investigator(s): K.J. Edgar and 12 others
Sponsor: ICTAS
Amount: $75K
July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010
Creating Advanced Cellulosic Composites and Biobased Energy Feedstocks
Investigator(s): A.G. Zink-Sharp, K.J. Edgar, et al
Sponsor: USDA
Amount: $458K
September 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010
Cellulose Analysis
Investigator(s): S. Renneckar, K.J. Edgar, A.G. Zink-Sharp
Sponsor: U.S. Army
Amount: $80,000
September 1, 2008 - August 31, 2009
SEMRR: Creating Advanced Cellulosic Composites and Biobased Energy Feedstocks
Investigator(s): Audrey Zink-Sharp, Kevin J. Edgar, Thomas Fox, Charles Frazier, Scott Renneckar, Maren Roman, and Shepard Zedaker
Sponsor: USDA CSREES Special Grants Program
Amount: $452,159
October 1, 2009 - September 31, 2010
Bio-based Materials Center at Virginia Tech
Investigator(s): Kevin J. Edgar, Foster Agblevor, Justin Barone, Alan R. Esker, Paul Gatenholm, Sean McGinnis, Abby Morgan, Scott Renneckar, Maren Roman, Zhiyou Wen, Y.-H. Percival Zhang
Sponsor: Virginia Tech Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science
Amount: $205,303
January 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009
Collaborative Research: Polysaccharide Derivatives for Enhanced Drug Delivery
Investigator(s): L. Taylor, K.J. Edgar
Sponsor: NSF
Amount: $404K
September 1, 2008 - August 31, 2011
SEMRR:Innovative Forest Management Linked with High Performance, Wood-Based Composites
Investigator(s): Audrey Zink-Sharp, C. Copenheaver, K. Edgar, U. Egertsdotter, T. Fox, C. Frazier, S. Renneckar, M. Roman, and S. Zedaker
Sponsor: USDA CSREES McIntire-Stennis
Amount: $221,732
September 1, 2007 - August 31, 2008
Sustainable Engineered Materials from Renewable Resources: Innovative Forest Management Linked with High Performance, Wood-Based Composites
Investigator(s): Audrey Zink-Sharp, Carolyn Copenheaver, Kevin J. Edgar, Ulrika Egertsdotter, Thomas A. Fox, Charles E. Frazier, Scott Renneckar, and Shep Zedaker
Sponsor: USDA CSREES McIntire-Stennis Program
Amount: $221,732
September 1, 2007 - August 31, 2008
Refereed Journal Publications
Wempe, M.F.; Wright, C.; Little, J.L.; Lightner, J.W.; Large, S.E.; Caflisch, G.B.; Buchanan, C.M.; Rice, P.J.; Wacher, V.J.; Ruble, K.M.; Edgar, K.J.
2009.
Inhibiting efflux with novel non-ionic surfactants: Rational design based on vitamin E TPGS.
Int. J. Pharm
370(2009):93-102.
Klein, S.; Wempe, M.F.; Zoeller, T.; Buchanan, N.L.; Lambert, J.L.; Ramsey, M.G.; Edgar, K.J.; Buchanan, C.M.
2009.
Improving glyburide solubility and dissolution by complexation with hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin.
J. Pharm. Pharmacol
61(2009):23-30.
Wempe, M.F.; Wacher, V.J.; Ruble, K.M.; Ramsey, M.G.; Edgar, K.J.; Buchanan, N.L.; Buchanan, C.M.
2008.
Pharmacokinetics of Raloxifene in Male Wistar-Hannover Rats: Influence of Complexation with Hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin.
Int. J. Pharm
346(1-2):25-37.
Buchanan, C.M.; Buchanan, N.L.; Edgar, K.J.; Little, J.L.; Ramsey, M.G.; Ruble, K.M.; Wacher, V.J.; Wempe, M.F.
2008.
Pharmacokinetics of Saquinavir after Intravenous and Oral Dosing of Saquinavir-Hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin Formulations.
Biomacromolecules
9(1):305-313.
Wempe, M.F.; Buchanan, C.M.; Buchanan, N.L.; Edgar, K.J.; Hanley, G.A.; Ramsey, M.G.; Skotty, J.S. Rice, P.J. .
2007.
Pharmacokinetics of Letrozole in Male and Female Rats: Influence of complexation with Hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin.
J. Pharm. Pharmacol
59(6):795-802.
Collnot, E.-M.; Baldes, C.; Wempe, M.F.; Kappl, R.; Hüttermann, J.; Hyatt, J.A.; Edgar, K.J.; Schaefer, U.F.; Lehr, C.-M. .
2007.
Mechanism of inhibition of P-glycoprotein mediated efflux by Vitamin E TPGS: Influence on ATPase activity and membrane fluidity.
Molecular Pharmaceutics
4(3):465-474.
K.J. Edgar.
2007.
Cellulose Esters in Drug Delivery.
Cellulose
14(1):49-64.
Posey-Dowty, J.D.; Watterson, T.L.; Wilson, A.K.; Edgar, K.J.; Shelton, M.C.; Lingerfelt, L.R. Jr.
2007.
Zero-Order Release Formulations using a Novel Cellulose Ester.
Cellulose
14(1):73-83.
Buchanan, C.M.; Buchanan, N.L.; Edgar, K.J.; Ramsey, M.G.
2007.
Solubility and Dissolution Studies of Antifungal Drug:Hydroxybutenyl-beta-Cyclodextrin Complexes.
Cellulose
14(1):35-47.
Buchanan, C.M.; Buchanan, N.L.; Edgar, K.J.; Little, J.L.; Malcolm, M.O.; Ruble, K.M.; Wacher, V.J.; Wempe, M.F.
2007.
Pharmacokinetics of Tamoxifen after Intravenous and Oral Dosing of Tamoxifen-hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin Formulations.
J. Pharm. Sci
96(3):644-660.
Buchanan, C.M.; Buchanan, N.L.; Edgar, K.J.; Klein, S.; Little, J.L.; Ramsey, M.G.; Ruble, K.M.; Wacher, V.J.; Wempe, M.F.
2007.
Pharmacokinetics of Itraconazole after Intravenous and Oral Dosing of Itraconazole - Cyclodextrin Formulations.
J. Pharm. Sci
2007(11):3100-3116.
Buchanan, Charles M., Norma L. Buchanan, Kevin J. Edgar, James L. Little, Michael O. Malcolm, Karen M. Ruble, Vincent J. Wacher and Michael F. Wempe.
2006.
Pharmacokinetics of Tamoxifen after Intravenous and Oral Dosing of Tamoxifen-Hydroxybutenyl-β-Cyclodextrin.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
96(3):644-660.
Buchanan, C.M.; Buchanan, N.L.; Edgar, K.J.; Lambert, J.L.; Posey-Dowty, J.D.; Ramsey, M.G.; Wempe, M.F.
2006.
Solubilization and Dissolution of Tamoxifen-hydroxybutenyl Cyclodextrin Complexes.
J. Pharm. Sci
95(10):2246-2255.
Collnot, E.M.; Baldes, C.; Wempe, M.F.; Hyatt, J.; Navarro, L.; Edgar, K.J.; Schaefer, U.F.; Lehr, C.M.
2006.
Influence of Vitamin E TPGS Poly(ethylene glycol) Chain Length on Apical Efflux Transporters in Caco-2 Cell Monolayers.
J. Controlled Release
111(1):35-40.
Other Publications
K.J. Edgar.
2009.
Synthetic Methods for Long-chain Esters of Cellulose.
ACS Symposium Series, 2009, Cellulose Esters: Performance by Design, K.J. Edgar, C.M. Buchanan, T. Heinze, eds.
J.D. Posey-Dowty, M.C. Shelton, K.J. Edgar.
2009.
Novel Cellulose Esters in Amorphous Matrix Drug Delivery.
ACS Symposium Series, 2009, Cellulose Esters: Performance by Design. K.J. Edgar, C.M. Buchanan, T. Heinze, eds.
C.M. Buchanan, N.L. Buchanan, K.J. Edgar, S. Klein, J.L. Little, M.G. Ramsey, K.M. Ruble, V.J. Wacher, M.F. Wempe.
2009.
Building New Drug Delivery Systems: in vitro and in vivo studies of drug-hydroxybutenylcyclodextrin complexes.
ACS Symposium Series, 2009, Cellulose Esters: Performance by Design, K.J. Edgar, C.M. Buchanan, T. Heinze, eds.
K.J. Edgar.
2009.
Polysaccharide Chemistry: Frontiers and Challenges.
ACS Symposium Series, 2009, Cellulose Esters: Performance by Design, K.J. Edgar, C.M. Buchanan, T. Heinze, eds.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2007.
Special Issue of Cellulose on Polysaccharides in Drug Delivery.
Guest editorial in the journal Cellulose, Issue 1, Volume 14, 2007, pages 1-2.
Presentations
Kevin J. Edgar.
2009.
Polysaccharides for Bioavailability Enhancement.
Polymers in Medicine and Biology, Sonoma, CA.
Kevin J. Edgar.
2009.
Design of Polysaccharides for Amorphous Matrix Drug Delivery Systems.
EPNOE Conference: Polysaccharides as a Source of Advanced Materials, Turku, Finland.
Kevin J. Edgar.
2009.
Polysaccharide Matrices for Enhanced Oral Drug Delivery.
SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY.
Kevin J. Edgar.
2008.
Zero-order Release and Enhanced Solubility of Drugs from Polysaccharide Matrices.
Materials Medicine Minisymposium, Blacksburg, VA.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2008.
Ethanol from Biomass and Cellulose; Challenges & Solutions.
NAASF Conference, Blacksburg, Virginia, June 3.
Kevin J. Edgar.
2008.
Polysaccharide Derivatives for Advanced Drug Delivery.
North Carolina State University.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2008.
Novel Polysaccharide Derivatives for Drug Delivery: Enhancing Bioavailability.
Hercules Aqualon, Wilmington, Delaware, February 18.
Kevin J. Edgar.
2008.
Cellulose Esters: Performance Polymers from Biomass.
Biomass South Conference, Raleigh, NC.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2007.
Cellulosic Ethanol: Challenges and Opportunities.
VFPA Conference, Blacksburg, Virginia, September 8
.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2007.
Novel Polysaccharides for Drug Delivery.
Wood Science & Forest Products Dept., Virginia Tech Presentation to students and faculty on the work in our laboratory, as part of an afternoon of poster and oral presentations by students, organized by Dan Hindman, June 6.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2007.
Novel Polysaccharide Derivatives for Drug Delivery: Enhancing Bioavailability.
Lecture on work in our laboratory. Invited lecture presented to R&D staff and management of Borregaard, after a research planning workshop in which Thomas Heinze (U. of Jena, Germany) and myself were invited outside participants
KTH, Stockholm, Sweden, Borregaard Chemcell, Sarpsborg, Norway, June 28.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2007.
Novel Polysaccharide Derivatives for Drug Delivery: Enhancing Bioavailability.
Presented to staff and students at the Polymer Science department at KTH. Invited lecture describing current work in our laboratory. Delivered as part of a visit to Professor Ann Christine Albertsson and her colleagues at KTH,
Stockholm, Sweden, June 25.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2007.
Novel Polysaccharide Derivatives for Drug Delivery: Enhancing Bioavailability.
Invited lecture to faculty and students at VBI, describing work in our laboratory. Lecture and subsequent discussions have led to a potential collaborative project with VBI director, VBI, Virginia Tech, March 13.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2007.
CMCAB for Drug Delivery: Simple Zero-Order Release, and So Much More.
American Chemical Society National Meeting
Presented during the session on polysaccharides in drug delivery, as part of the Payen Award Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, March 27.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2007.
Novel Polysaccharide Derivatives for Drug Delivery: Enhancing Bioavailability.
Invited lecture to MILES program faculty and students on work in our laboratory, as part of the MILES educational curriculum, MILES Lecture, Virginia Tech, April 23.
Wempe, M.F. , C.M. Buchanan, K.J. Edgar, M. Ramsey, G. Hanley, and P.J. Rice.
2006.
Pharmacokinetic Studies using Hydroxybutenyl-β-cyclodextrin (HBen-β-CD) Drug Complexes.
AAPS Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, November.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2005.
Enhancing Oral Drug Delivery.
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, February 10.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2005.
Cellulose Esters in Drug Delivery.
ACS National Meeting in San Diego, California, March 2005.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2004.
Eastman Drug Delivery Systems.
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, January 9.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2004.
Oral Bioavailability Enhancement.
University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee, March 3.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2002.
Controlled Drug Delivery.
Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany, October.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2001.
Synthesis of Long-Chain Esters of Cellulose via Sulfonated Polystyrene Catalysis.
ACS National Meeting in San Diego, California, April.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2000.
Cellulose Esters: Biomaterials for the Future.
Chalmers University, Sweden, August 14.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2000.
Cellulose Esters – 21st Century Biopolymers.
Conference on Hierarchical Organization of Polysaccharides and Lignocellulosics, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden, August 18.
Edgar, Kevin J.
2000.
Cellulose Ester Biopolymers in the 21st Century.
ACS National Meeting in San Francisco, California, March.
Edgar, K. , co-authors J.M. Allen and A.K. Wilson.
2000.
Synthesis of Carboxymethylcellulose Propionates and Carboxymethylcellulose Butyrates.
ACS National Meeting in San Francisco, California, March.
Edgar, Kevin J.
1999.
Cellulose Esters by Direct Esterification.
Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, October.
Edgar K., co-authors T.J. Pecorini and S.D. Barnicki.
1996.
Synthesis of Partially Substituted Cellulose Esters by Direct Esterification.
ACS National Meeting at Orlando, Florida, August.
Edgar, Kevin J.
1994.
New Methods of Cellulose Ester Synthesis – Converting Renewable Resources into Modern Materials.
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, October 7.
Edgar, K., K.M. Arnold, W.W. Blount, J.E. Lawniczak, and D.W. Lowman .
1994.
Synthesis and Properties of Cellulose Acetoacetates.
ACS National Meeting, Washington, DC, August.
Edgar, Kevin J.
1994.
Chemical Modification of Cellulose.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado, July 18.
Edgar, Kevin J.
1992.
Cellulose Esters in Waterborne Coatings.
PRA International Conference on Waterborne 12th Paints, Milan, Italy, November 17.
Awards and Honors
Eastman Business Builder's Award.
Creation of startup drug delivery business.
Charles R. Hauser Fellowship in Organic Chemistry, Duke Univ., .
1978-1979.
N.I.H. Pharmacological Research Trainee.
1975-1978.
Patents
Edgar, K.J.
Preparation of 4-Substituted Aryl Olefins.
4,965,361
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Buchanan, C.M.; Buchanan, N.L.; Edgar, K.J.; Lambert, J.L.
Carbohydrate Esters and Polyol Esters as Plasticizers for Polymers, Compositions and Articles Including Such Plasticizers and Methods of Using the Same.
7,276,546
US Patent Application Serial Number US 2005/0228084 A1.
Buchanan, C.M.; Buchanan, N.L.; Edgar, K.J.; Lambert, J.L.
Novel Carbohydrate Esters and Polyol Plasticizers for Polymers, Compositions and Articles Including Such Plasticizers and Methods of Using the Same.
6,977,275
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Hyatt, J.A.; Fengl, R.W.; Edgar, K.J.; Alvarez-Wright, M.T.
Process for the Co-production of Dissolving Grade Pulp and Xylan.
6,057,438
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Edgar, K.J.
Process for Preparing Cellulose Esters using a Sulfonic Acid Catalyst.
6,160,111
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Edgar, K.J.; Bogan, R.T.
Direct Process for the Production of Cellulose Esters.
5,929,229
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Edgar, K.J.; Bogan, R.T.
Direct Process for the Production of Cellulose Esters.
5,750,677
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Kuo, C.M.; Edgar, K.J.
Process for Preparing Cellulose Acetoacetate Alkanoates.
5,770,726
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Edgar, K.J.; Buchanan, C.M.
Process for Preparing Cellulose Esters by Use of Carboxylic Acids.
5,597,912
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Edgar, K.J.; Lawniczak, J.E.
Cellulose Acetoacetate Esters used in Coating Compositions.
5,595,591
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Edgar, K.J.; Lawniczak, J.E.
Cellulose Acetoacetate Esters.
5,521,304
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Edgar, K.J.; Lawniczak, J.E.
Cellulose Acetoacetate Esters.
5,420,267
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Edgar, K.J.; Blount, W.W., Jr.
Cellulose Acetoacetates.
5,292,877
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Edgar, K.J.; Blount, W.W., Jr.
Cellulose Acetoacetates.
5,360,843
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Bellas, M.; Buchanan, C.M.; Edgar, K.J.; Germroth, T.C.
Cellulose Ester Compositions and Process for the Preparation Thereof.
5,142,034
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Edgar, K.J; Steinmetz, G.R.
Process for the Iodination of Hydroxyaromatic and Aminoaromatic Compounds.
4,997,946
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Steinmetz, G.R.; Edgar, K.J.; Falling, S.N.
Process for the Carbonylation of Iodoaromatic Compounds.
4,885,384
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
Edgar, K.J.; Hyatt, J.A.
Preparation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenylhydrazine.
4,772,747
US Patent Application Serial Number x.
University Service
Member.
ICTAS Faculty Advisory Board
Associate Director, Research Initiatives.
Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute
Member, University Graduate Curriculum Committee.
January - May, 2008
Member, Student Policy & Affairs Committee, CNR.
August, 2007 through May, 2009
Director, Bio-based Materials Center.
2007 onward
Search Committee, Director IBPHS.
Served on Search Committee for a new IBPHS Director in place of Ulrika Egertsdotter, while she has been on leave this year
Bio-Nano Concept Development Team.
Representing the College on a team led by Dean Lay Nam Chang to develop the concept for a University effort in this area
Professional Services
ACS Board Committee on Planning.
Served throughout 2007 as a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Board Committee on planning. This committee of ACS leaders is responsible for strategic planning at the board level for the largest scientific society in the world
ACS Divisional Activities Committee Chair.
Served as the chairman of the Divisional Activities Committee (DAC) of the American Chemical Society from January 1, 2007 through 2009. Committee is responsible for supporting ACS technical divisions, dealing with issues regarding divisions, and enhancing the quality of ACS division technical programming. DAC has been spearheading a Society-wide effort to introduce thematic, multidisciplinary (cross-divisional) programming to ACS meetings; we pulled this off successfully at the fall 2006 and spring 2007 meetings, and this will continue to be a feature of meetings going forward
ACS Councilor.
Served as an American Chemical Society (ACS) councilor throughout 2007. Very active member of the governing council of ACS, the largest scientific society in the world
Organizer, Payen Symposium.
Organized the Payen Award Symposium honoring Charles Buchanan, with the topic ""Synthesis and Structure-Property Relationships of Polysaccharides,"" for the ACS National Meeting in Chicago. I nominated Charles for this award, the highest given by the ACS Cellulose & Renewable Materials Division. When he won, I organized a three day symposium and a formal dinner in his honor for the Chicago meeting. These are always the most important technical and social events for the Division each year. Attendance at the technical sessions and dinner was excellent, and we raised over $16,000 in corporate contributions to cover the costs of the events
Eastman Chemical Company 1979-2006, Technology Fellow.
Cellulose ester process and new product research, drug delivery system innovation, organic synthesis, organometallic synthesis, polysaccharide chemistry, product and market development, technology leadership and management, new business development
Kevin Edgar
Professor
Virginia Tech Department of Wood Science and Forest Products
work:
540-231-0674
Creation of drug delivery systems to meet patient needs