The predoctoral researcher Natalia Navarro Ampudia, from the Nucleic Acids Chemistry group, will defend his thesis on 23rd February at 12:00h in Aula Magna (Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona)
Title: DNA origami as a drug delivery vehicle
Directors: Carme Fàbrega and Ramon Eritja
Thesis committee: Marçal Pastor, Sílvia Pujals, and Silvia Hernández Ainsa
Abstract:
Of the many emerging applications of DNA nanostructures, their use as carriers for therapeutic molecules is particularly fascinating. Beyond improving drug solubility, DNA nanostructures offer several advantages: they are easy to synthesize, exhibit high payload capacity, and possess excellent biocompatibility. Among them, DNA origami stands out as a particularly powerful platform due to its unparalleled ability to position functional elements with nanometer precision. This degree of spatial control enables the rational design of nanotherapeutic systems with defined stoichiometry, geometry, and multivalent arrangements that are difficult to achieve with conventional nanocarriers. However, several challenges must still be addressed to unlock the full potential of DNA origami nanostructures as drug delivery vehicles.
In this thesis, DNA origami nanostructures are engineered as programmable platforms for the delivery of therapeutic agents, and their potential for targeted and multifunctional cancer therapy is investigated.
