Photosensitive Delivery of Mir-34a Using Core-Shell-Shell Nanoparticles to Treat Glioblastoma
Open Access
- Author:
- Sawyers, Alex
- Area of Honors:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Daniel J Hayes, Thesis Supervisor
Meghan Vidt, Thesis Honors Advisor
Justin Lee Brown, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- Glioblastoma
Nanoparticles
Furan-Diels Alder - Abstract:
- Glioblastoma Multiforme is a very aggressive brain tumor that is difficult to cure because it does not respond well to standard therapies. In this project, we experiment with a novel approach for the targeted delivery of the microRNA miR-34a-5p to glioblastoma cells via photosensitive gold-silver-gold core-shell-shell nanoparticles. The gold-silver-gold composition of the nanoparticles offers both biocompatibility and tunable surface characteristics. The core-shell-shell design of the nanoparticles offers stability and improved responsivity to near-infrared light. The gold-silver-gold, core-shell-shell nature is vital to the success of the nanoparticle as a drug delivery vehicle. The surface of the nanoparticle is functionalized by attaching the miRNA with a thermo-responsive furan-based Diels-Alder linker. These nanoparticles are heated up when they are exposed to near-infrared light and the heat makes the furan Diels alder linkers undero a retrograde reaction which in turn releases the miRNA. Regulating the release of miRNA-34a-5p allows for a light-triggered delivery method to increase cancer therapeutic efforts. This work exhibits the efficacy of photosensitive gold-silver-gold core-shell-shell nanoparticles which deliver miRNA-34a-5p to glioblastoma patients. Here we will prove how promising it is to use photosensitive gold-silver-gold core-shell-shell nanoparticles to deliver miRNA-34a-5p to glioblastoma patients via nanoparticles. This novel technique is promising for the creation of more accurate and efficient therapies for glioblastoma and other aggressive tumors, as well as overcoming the drawbacks of existing therapeutic approaches.