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Weiliam Chen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering.
Funding through the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
The research focus of this laboratory is on the development of biodegradable
hyaluronan sustained gene delivery microspheres, or rather, unique vehicles
for controlled drug delivery. More specifically, in our work a plasmid
DNA gene construct encoding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
is conjugated to hyaluronan microspheres and administered to the myocardium
for gene transfer. The goal is to induce myocardial angiogenesis, in a
sustained manner, for the focal treatment of ischemic heart disease
Figure 1. SEM image of a hyaluronan-DNA
coated coronary stent (left). The coating appears smooth with
a thickness of between 10 to 15 µm. At higher power, the hyaluronan-DNA
matrix is evident. |
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Using this platform, we are working on other configurations of this gene
delivery system. For example, a biodegradable hyaluronan gene delivery
coronary stent coating: to inhibit angioplasty-induced restenosis, a plasmid
DNA gene construct encoding Hyaluronan Synthase (HASyn) is conjugated
to a hyaluronan stent coating for vascular gene transfer (Figure 1). We
are also attempting to develop a biodegradable hyaluronan gene delivery
matrix: to accelerate chronic wound healing, a plasmid DNA gene construct
encoding Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) is conjugated to the hyaluronan
matrix.
The performance profiles (i.e., the effects of each formulation parameter
on the in vitro and in vivo release kinetics, stability, etc.) of the
biodegradable DNA delivery systems have to be characterized. Students
majoring in chemistry, materials science or chemical engineering could
help to design experiments to characterize the physicochemical/mechanical
properties of these DNA delivery systems and help to understand their
behaviors. With the information compiled, students with computational
skills could develop software algorithms to predict the effect of each
formulation parameter on DNA delivery. The computational tools developed
will help in designing future DNA delivery systems with optimal characteristics
tailored to specific biomedical applications.
Student Background: The ideal student will be someone with a background
or good working knowledge in polymer chemistry, and with interests in
molecular biology and pharmacology. Students from chemical engineering
who are familiar (or with a working knowledge) with DNA and/or Gene Delivery
Systems will also be good.
Contact Information
email: wchen@collabo.com
url: http://www.bme.sunysb.edu/bme/people/faculty/w_chen.html
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