Our project is focused on development of therapies for respiratory diseases taking advantage of the unique abilities of nanoparticles to act upon mucins - a family of glycoproteins secreted from epithelial cells on body surfaces to provide a protective gel layer. Many respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, sinusitis and asthma are characterized by thick and viscous mucus accumulation in the airway. These mucus plugs can lead to chronic infections, inflammations or restricted airflow. Various mucilytic agents have been used with limited success. Our invention entails the use of negatively-charged functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) to successfully disperse mucin aggregates and actin gels (two major components in most airway mucus plugs).,Our project is focused on development of therapies for respiratory diseases taking advantage of the unique abilities of nanoparticles to act upon mucins - a family of glycoproteins secreted from epithelial cells on body surfaces to provide a protective gel layer. Many respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, sinusitis and asthma are characterized by thick and viscous mucus accumulation in the airway. These mucus plugs can lead to chronic infections, inflammations or restricted airflow. Various mucilytic agents have been used with limited success. Our invention entails the use of negatively-charged functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) to successfully disperse mucin aggregates and actin gels (two major components in most airway mucus plugs).