Events Calendar

Lyman Handy Colloquium

Speaker: Professor Mohamed E.H. El-Sayed, Professor

Talk Title: “Smart” Degradable Particles for Targeted Gene Silencing

Abstract: Recent advances in drug design have led to the development of several classes of novel therapeutic macromolecules including peptides, proteins, monoclonal antibodies, immunotoxins, lysozymes, plasmid DNA, antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, and short interfering RNA. Despite the established potential of these macromolecules, their development into stable and clinically-active drugs with defined dosage regimens remains a significant challenge. To transform these promising drug candidates into actual therapeutic agents, we have to develop effective strategies to improve drug stability, control spatial and temporal drug release in the body, increase drug absorption across epithelial and endothelial barriers, allow selective drug accumulation in diseased tissues, and achieve drug targeting at cellular and sub-cellular levels. In this seminar, I will discuss our research efforts to develop “intelligent” pH-sensitive, membrane-destabilizing, and degradable polymeric carriers that can effectively deliver therapeutic nucleic acids past the endosomal membrane and into the cytoplasm of cancer cells to successfully suppress the expression of targeted genes.

Location: James H. Zumberge Hall Of Science (ZHS) -

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Petra Pearce