Nanoengineering biological materials and machinery

Check out this video from PBS! My former colleague and current Chair of Engineering at Otterbein University, Dr. Mike Hudoba, meets with the head of the Center of Science and Industry to make some DNA nanostructures! 

Nucleic acid therapeutics have immense potential due to their affinity and specificity for intracellular targets that alter gene expression (e.g. mRNA COVID-19 vaccines). The major hurdle is creating a stable system that can sequester, protect, transport, and deliver nucleic acid payloads while potentially targeting specific tissue. Self-assembling charged polymers, amphiphilic polymers, and/or lipids with therapeutic nucleic acids offers promising solutions due to the tunable and customizable nature of the nanoparticles. My lab will develop structural design strategies guided by systematic physical characterization to enable predictive control over size, morphology, and stability; all features currently limiting success of these therapeutics. We will explore programmed cell surface targeting, endosomal escape, and cargo release to tailor nanoparticles for specific therapies. Ultimately, I aim to employ this comprehensive design process with collaborators in immunology against viral diseases that disproportionally affect underserved communities. See more here.