Evaluation of the Delivery and Targeting of Nucleic Acid Based Nanomaterials for Therapeutic Application
Author | : Nathan Beals |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 451 |
Release | : 2018 |
Genre | : Nanostructured materials |
ISBN | : |
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Nanotechnology is based around creating new materials with distinct and different properties for the advancement of applications in biosensing, cellular delivery, theranostics, bioelectronics, bio-computers among many others. As materials are modulated and created to be made on the nanoscale, altered physicochemical properties can be exploited for new functions. Nanomaterial application can change drastically based on the disposition of the material. Nucleic acids have been increasingly examined for pairing with nanomaterials or being used autonomously as a nanomaterial, due to the unique ability to control structure, size and function at the molecular level. Independently or in combination with nanomaterials, nucleic acids offer precise control and properties not commonly found in nanotechnology. My research will highlight this relationship in three distinctly different ways: 1) Using DNA aptamers within a multipart nanoparticle complex to target specific cells, not only improving efficacy of the delivered therapeutic agent but also reducing non-specific side effects 2) Examining intracellular hydrogel formation where a DNA sequence is used as potassium dependent switch, creating a new mechanism for targeted cytotoxicity 3) Nanomaterial drug delivery systems to overcome the negative attributes RNA and DNA therapeutics may have. The third arm of this work will explain the delivery of thiolated siRNAs, piRNAs and DNAs in gold nanoparticle complexes, but also expand upon a new strategy to incorporate modified nucleotides within DNA plasmid sequences as a tethering beacon for nanomaterial conjugation as a scaffold for protection and targeting. I hope to emphasize the diverse ways nucleic acids and nanotechnology can be paired which could lead into potential new insights and advancements for clinical application in the future.