Speakers

Title: Bio-inspired Approaches for Cell Targeted Delivery of Gold Nanoparticles and Small Molecule Therapeutic Agents Abstract: Efficient targeting of therapeutic agents to diseased cells is a powerful approach to improve potency and minimize toxicity because of increase in the effective drug concentration at the site of action and the reduction of off target effects. One of my lab’s research interests is to develop novel approaches for selective delivery of two classes of cytotoxic agents, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), into diseased tissues/cells. HDACi and AuNPs hold great promise as agents of choice, either as stand alone therapeutics or in combination with other traditional chemotherapeutic agents, in the fight against cancer scourge. In addition to having limited ability to distinguish between normal and tumor cells, the biological activities of AuNPs are extremely sensitive to their subcellular localization. Similarly, most HDACi non-selectively inhibit the deacetylase activity of various and histone deacetylase (HDAC) isoenzymes. This broad HDAC inhibition is associated with reduced potency and toxic side effects. Tumor selective delivery of AuNPs and HDACi will significantly improve their therapeutic indices and may lead to the identification of novel agents for use in diagnostic imaging and targeted cancer therapy applications. In this presentation, I will introduce results from my lab on molecular design approaches for selective delivery of HDACi and AuNPs into various tumor cells. Using a combination of molecular docking tools and cell-based assays, we have identified as subset of compounds having potent anti-proliferative activities for use in various delivery applications. I will conclude with a focus on the future prospects of HDAC inhibition, not only in cancer therapy, but other human disease conditions where chromatin remodeling and protein acetylation status may play significant roles. Coffee and continental breakfast will be served.