Mini-Workshop on Biological Systems and Applications

Organization : INCT-FCx, NAP-FCx

Chairman : Prof. Cristiano L. P. Oliveira

Venue : Adma Jafet Auditorium, Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo

Schedule

Thursday, August 27^th

13:20 – 13:30 – Welcome – Cristiano L. P. Oliveira

13:30 – 14:30 – “Lipid nanoparticles as vehicles for the treatment of Atherosclerosis, Cancer and other degenerative diseases” – Raul Maranhão

14:30 – 15:30 – “Engineering several gates on  octahedral DNA nanocages for a controlled trapping and release of useful payloads” – Alessandro Desideri

15:30 – 16:30 –“Receptor-mediated DNA nanocages entry into human cells: the case of LOX-1, a multiligand lipoprotein receptor” – Silvia Biocca

16:30 – 16:40 – Closing Remarks – Cristiano L. P. Oliveira

Speakers and Abstracts:

Prof. Raul Maranhão – University of São Paulo

Lipid nanoparticles as vehicles for the treatment of Atherosclerosis, Cancer and other degenerative diseases

Prof. Silvia Biocca – University of Rome “Tor Vergata”

Receptor-mediated DNA nanocages entry into human cells: the case of LOX-1, a multiligand lipoprotein receptor

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), the primary receptor of ox-LDL in endothelial cells, is a multiligand lipoprotein receptor responsible for ox-LDL recognition, binding and internalization. It plays a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disorders. Here I will describe the molecular mechanism of LOX-1 binding to different ligands including LOX-1 inhibitors and DNA nanocages to be used in nanomedicine.

Prof. Alessandro Desideri  – University of Rome “Tor Vergata”

Engineering several gates on  octahedral DNA nanocages for a controlled trapping and release of useful payloads

The recent development of biomedical nanotechnology is providing the appropriate know-how to build novel nanocarriers/nanocapsules to be used in the pharmaceutical industry for delivery of drugs and/or therapeutic payloads to specific cells. DNA is an extremely suitable polymer for the generation of nanocapsules being biocompatible, stable and chemically modifiable. Moreover, the simple four bases mechanism allows the auto-assembly of geometrically defined systems. In this presentation I will describe the general properties of DNA nanocarriers, how they can be functionalized for different tasks and how different opening/closing mechanisms can be engineered for a controlled release of useful payloads.