Therapeutics and diagnostics discovery

We are developing a novel, nanotechnology-based and next generation sequencing-based aptamer discovery method.  Aptamers are a new class of folded DNA or RNA molecules that can be used as therapeutics or diagnostics.   Our initial goal is to find a Her-2 specific aptamer, which has potential as a cancer therapeutic or diagnostic.   

This work is done in collaboration with a start-up company (NanoMedica, LLC, Winston-Salem), the Wake Forest University Chemistry and Cancer Biology departments, and UNC Charlotte.  In collaboration with David Liu (Harvard University) and Nicolas Winssinger (Strasbourg), the technique is also applied to discover nucleotide-encoded chemicals. 

In our initial approach, we were using AFM- and micropipette-based appraoches to pick up individual, functionalized nanobeads. (see Gassman, N.R. et al. “Selection of Bead-Displayed, PNA-encoded Chemicals” Journal of Molecular Recognition (2010) 23, 414-22; and Peng, L., et al. “A combined atomic force/fluorescence microscopy technique to select aptamers in a single cycle from a small pool of random oligonucleotides”  Microscopy Research and Technique (2007) 70, 372-381).

Currently, in collaboration with UNC Charlotte and NanoMedica, LLC, we are developing an approach that utilizes the extremely high throughput of next generation sequencing machines, for aptamer selection and encoded molecules selection.

Funding from the NIH and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.