/ Project

Characterizing Inflammatory Phenotypes in Nanomedicine

Evaluating redox-controlled inflammatory mechanisms and the immune response to DNA Nanostructures for therapeutic drug delivery.

Research Overview

Project Overview

DNA Nanostructures represent a frontier in targeted drug delivery; however, their interactions with innate immune pathways—specifically regarding oxidative stress—remain largely unknown. This study establishes a foundation for DNA-based nanotherapies by evaluating how oxidative stress influences the inflammatory phenotype.

Research Objectives

  1. Characterize the inflammatory phenotype triggered by oxidative stress to serve as a baseline for nano-therapy evaluation.
  2. Investigate the role of Superoxide Dismutase 2 (SOD2) in modulating cellular inflammatory signaling.
  3. Quantify the expression of key pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to H2O2-induced stress.

Technical Stack & Skills

  • Molecular Biology: RT-qPCR, RNA extraction, Cellular Transfection.
  • Cell Biology: Cell culture (HT1080 lines), redox-controlled mechanism analysis.
  • Software: Data normalization and genomic expression quantification.

Note: This research was conducted as part of my undergraduate work in the Melendez Lab at the University at Albany, SUNY.