2021 Annual Meeting
(340z) Design and Development of Gold Nanoshell-Liposomes Formulations for Scalable, High-Throughput Ex-Vivo mRNA and DNA Delivery
To address this problem, my post-doctoral research focused on the design and development of a high viability ex-vivo mRNA delivery system for transient expression of CARs in NK and other primary cells. I encapsulate the mRNA in neutral liposomes that are then chemically tethered to plasmon-resonant hollow gold nanoshells (HGN). I synthesize the HGN by galvanic replacement chemistry from silver nanocrystals. The HGN plasmon resonance can be tuned to absorb physiologically friendly near infra-red light of 650 â 1040 nm wavelength by controlling the reaction conditions. This system has shown great potential with high transfection efficiency on several cell lines.
Our long-term goal is to create the cell manufacturing machinery to produce a cell bank of mRNA coded CAR NK cells. Transient ex-vivo mRNA modification of NK cells represents a hit and run strategy whereby engineered donor NK cells mediate complete and rapid disease eradication with minimal side effects, followed by extinguishing the mRNA-induced alterations, allowing for normal cell recovery. Patients can use donor supplied NK cells rather than patient specific T cells that induce a graft versus host response. The cell bank could provide patients with immediate treatment without the difficulty of T cell harvesting, transfection and expansion, which can take weeks while the cancer progresses.
Gene therapy is possibly one of the most exciting area of bioengineering. We have reached exceptional levels of control over gene delivery, immune system modulation as well as precise manipulation of the human genome as seen through the rapid manufacture of the COVID vaccine. Combining the various experimental as well as instruments techniques can undoubtedly reshape the face of biomedical research in the near future.
Research Interests
Drug discovery, product formulations, Innovative platforms, nanotechnology, nanomedicine, gene/drug therapy, novel vaccine development, research and development