Invited Speaker

Self-Assembling DNA Nanostruc-Tures for Biomedical Applications
Thom LaBean
USA

DNA-based nanotechnology entails the design of artificial nucleotide sequences capable of self-assembling into desired geometric shapes and patterns with nanometer scale precision [1-3]. DNA nanostructures have been shown to be useful for the organization of other materials including proteins and peptides, inorganic nanoparticles, nucleic acid aptamers, and small molecules [4, 5].

Since pharmaceutical therapies interact with living cells at the molecular and nanometer length scales, our programmable, nano-scale biomolecular assemblies represent an exciting new method for organization and presentation of biochemically active molecules. We will present results from several on-going studies including construction and testing of thrombolytic assemblies, anticoagulant constructs, and non-viral nucleic acid drug delivery vehicles.

We will also present our plans for nano-scale assemblies designed to affect cell-to-cell signaling pathways in cancer tissue and the immune system by causing programmed cell surface receptor clustering.

Reference

1. H. Li, J.D. Carter, LaBean, T.H. (2009) Nanofabrication by DNA self-assembly. Materials Today, 12, 20-28.

2. H. Yan, S.H. Park, G. Finkelstein, J.H. Reif, T.H. LaBean (2003) DNA-templated self-assembly of protein arrays and highly conductive nanowires. Science, 301, 1882-1884.

3. P. Yin, R. Hariadi, S. Sahu, H.M.T. Choi, S. H. Park, T.H. LaBean, J.H. Reif (2008) Programming molecular tube circumferences. Science, 321, 824-826.

4. S-H. Park, P. Yin, Y. Liu, J.H. Reif, T.H. LaBean, H. Yan (2005) Programmable DNA self-assemblies for nanoscale organization of ligands and proteins. Nano. Lett., 5, 729-733.

5. H. Li, T.H. LaBean, D. Kenan (2006) Single-chain antibodies against DNA aptamers as adapter molecules on DNA tile arrays in nanoscale materials organization. Org. Biomol. Chem., 4, 3420-3426.