Nano-Enabled Gene & Protein Regulation 

Many diseases are driven by genes that are silenced and proteins that should not be there. We combine chemical biology tools with nanocarriers to switch these targets on or off directly. Using NanoScript, a synthetic transcription factor platform, we reactivate tumor suppressor genes such as PTEN without viral vectors. We are also developing nanocarrier-based delivery of PROTACs to degrade disease-driving proteins with greater stability and tissue selectivity. 

Key approaches

• Gene ON/OFF: NanoScript-mediated transcriptional activation and repression

• Protein OFF: nanocarrier-assisted PROTAC delivery (ongoing)

• Microneedle platforms for local, minimally invasive gene regulation

Selected publications

• NanoScript-enabled transcriptional activation of PTEN via microneedles for breast cancer treatment (in submission)