Inhibiting the growth of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo through targeted treatment with designer gold nanotherapeutics.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest of all human malignancies with limited options for therapy. Here, we report the development of an optimized targeted drug delivery system to inhibit advanced stage pancreatic tumor growth in an orthotopic mouse model. METHODPRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Targeting specificity in vitro was confirmed by preincubation of the pancreatic cancer cells with C225 as well as Nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR - nucleoside transporter (NT) inhibitor).

Designing nanoconjugates to effectively target pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer related deaths in America. Monoclonal antibodies are a viable treatment option for inhibiting cancer growth. Tumor specific drug delivery could be achieved utilizing these monoclonal antibodies as targeting agents.

Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanocrystals affect the expression of genes involved in the TGF-beta signalling pathway.

An understanding of interaction of nanomaterials with living systems is fundamental to address nanosafety issues, which, in turn will dictate the future prospects of nanomedicine. Herein, we examine the molecular effects of uptake of Magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) Nanocrystals (MNC) using a transcriptomics approach. The uptake of MNC was studied by electron microscopy.

Phenylalanine-rich peptides potently bind ESAT6, a virulence determinant of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and concurrently affect the pathogen's growth.

Background: The secretory proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) have been known to be involved in the virulence, pathogenesis as well as proliferation of the pathogen. Among this set, many proteins have been hypothesized to play a critical role at the genesis of the onset of infection, the primary site of which is invariably the human lung.

Water soluble nanoparticles from PEG-based cationic hyperbranched polymer and RNA that protect RNA from enzymatic degradation.

Recent advances in understanding biological systems have proven that RNA is not merely the carrier of genetic information, but also a key molecule in regulation of gene expression and other crucial metabolic processes. Therefore, it is being considered as an ideal therapeutic candidate both for metabolic and genetic disorders. However, research involving RNA molecules faces a practical limitation since RNA is highly labile.