Quantitation of Polyplex Structure-Function Relationships

University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL

Investigators

Abstract

The ultimate goal is to engineer artificial viruses for deployment as gene therapy vehicles. The goal of the proposed work is to unravel how DNA/polymer complexes navigate through the cell. In particular, the movement between endocytic vesicles and transit across the nuclear envelope will be explored. Polymers will be chosen and functionalized to have different buffering and nuclear import properties in order to facilitate the tracking within the cell. Single cells will be observed as well as cell populations. Success will contribute to improving the understanding and efficacy of cell transformation and gene therapy technologies.