Identifier

etd-07082015-135301

Degree

Master of Science in Biological and Agricultural Engineering (MSBAE)

Department

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The spatiotemporal control of biological processes, especially cell growth and differentiation, remains one of the most compelling challenges in basic and clinical biomedical research. Fields as diverse as cancer therapy and regenerative medicine rely on spatial and temporal control of biochemical cues to achieve desired biological objectives. MicroRNA are attractive for highly-localized delivery applications because their instability in the cell restricts their biological effect to a small target area. These short, non-coding strands can be easily synthesized and modified for attachment and release from nanoparticle delivery vehicles. The research interest around microRNA therapies has produced a wide array of pathways dependent on microRNA, especially in osteogenesis, adipogenesis, and cancer therapy. The development of a versatile delivery platform will complement the wide array of microRNA pathways that are being discovered. The unique optical properties of metal nanoparticles provide a powerful tool for microRNA delivery via photochemical or photothermal methods. The plasmonic response of silver and gold particles provide an important complement to microRNAs with photocleavable linking moieties, where the coherent oscillation of electrons at specific wavelengths may be able to greatly enhance delivery efficiency while providing non-invasive external control of release.

Date

2015

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Hayes, Daniel

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.1167

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Engineering Commons

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