Glioblastoma targeting using peptide-functionalized nanoparticles loaded with nucleic acids

Teesalu laboratory has shown the suitability of a strategy based on courier peptides for targeting cancer drugs to glioblastoma (GBM) foci. In the course of this interdisciplinary project, peptide-targeted therapeutic siRNA nanoparticles (NPs) capable of traversing the HEB and accumulating in tumor cells will be developed. In the first phases of the project, the synthesis of NPs will be optimized and the appropriate density of peptides and amount of siRNA will be determined using experiments on GBM cell lines in vitro. Tissue distribution and anticancer activity of NPs will then be evaluated in a panel of clinically relevant GBM orthotopic animal models. The expected scientific outcome of the project is the development and validation of a therapeutic paradigm based on smart siRNA NPs. For my research career, the project will allow me to acquire a wide range of new interdisciplinary methodologies and expand my current research focus (neurodegenerative diseases) to brain tumors.