Ankur Singh, B.E., M.Tech.
Graduate Research Assistant
Office: BME 5.412
ankur.singh@mail.utexas.edu

Research Focus: Biopolymer-Based Gene Delivery Systems

Despite the recent success in various animal models, the prophylactic and therapeutic potential of genetic immunization in humans is far from realization and awaits development of highly efficient yet safe, patient compliant and practical delivery systems antigens and adjuvants. My research primarily focuses on development of a new class of genetic vaccines that are efficient in causing gene manipulation using short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Delivered siRNAs can potently silence gene specific mRNA, thereby preventing their translation into disease-causing or promoting proteins. We are developing biopolymer based gene delivery systems by grafting synthetic polyamines onto the backbone of micro and nanoparticles made of FDA approved biocompatible/biodegradable systems. By harnessing the natural biological process of siRNAs, plasmid DNAs and other small biomolecules in mammalian cells, we are creating a combinatorial delivery systems, where a single injectable or needle-free formulation can deliver multiple therapeutic agents (nucleic or protein vaccines, adjuvants etc.) to a specific cell population. We have successfully developed one such multi-modal system by covalently conjugating PEI to PLGA microspheres for combinatorial delivery of antigen encoded plasmid DNAs with siRNAs targeting gene of interest. By co-delivering siRNAs, we aim to target the 'root' factors that either cause the disease themselves or prevent current therapeutic vaccines from being effective. We intend to develop novel genetic vaccines that can serve as broad spectrum infectious, anti-viral and anti-cancer therapeutics and to address this we are conducting prophylactic/therapeutic studies in surface antigen Hepatitis B murine models and B cell Lymphoma murine tumor models (latter is in collaboration with Dr.Larry Kwak, Lymphoma and Myeloma, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX)

Research Illustration:

(Click to see full-size image)

Cationic PEI-PLGA Microparticles capable of simultaneously delivering cytokine targeted siRNA and DNA vaccine to the same Dendritic Cell. Silencing specific Th1 (or Th2) suppressing genes "preferably" diverts CD4+ T cell pathway towards Th1 (or Th2 type) thus improving the potency of vaccine.