A Lipo-Polymeric Approach to Breast Cancer Gene Therapy

Nucleic acid-based therapies such as DNA and siRNA has equipped us with the freedom to customize in our
battle against specific cancers and other diseases. Especially the non-viral approach to deliver the therapeutic
nucleic acids in a clinical setting provides a safer alternative to the viral gene therapy systems. However, to
achieve a clinically relevant outcome using non-viral systems, it requires the design and development of powerful
delivery vehicles capable to delivering multiple payloads to the disease cells while leaving the healthy cells
unaffected. Given the specificity of the TRAIL protein against cancer cells, this project will develop a platform for
long-term expression of TRAIL protein through the delivery of TRAIL DNA using a safe non-viral system and test
them in cell culture and animal disease models and aim for a clinical outcome.

Faculty Supervisor:

Hasan Uludag

Student:

Partner:

Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Nanotechnology; Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Biotechnology

University:

University of Alberta

Program: