During her PhD studies, Ana Siqueira explored innovative strategies for improving the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) using albumin. ASOs are designed to bind to a specific mRNA target, reducing the production of disease-related proteins that could help slow down the disease progression. However, current ASO therapies face different delivery challenges. Ana Siqueira investigated two approaches to enhance ASO delivery, particularly for application in inflammatory diseases such as osteoarthritis. One strategy utilises lipid-modified ASOs for association with albumin, while the other strategy incorporates the lipid-modified ASOs into ultrasound-sensitive albumin-based gas-filled particles (microbubbles). The research findings contribute to developing nucleic acid-based drugs harnessing albumin with potential therapeutic application in different diseases.

The PhD study was completed at the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 6 December 2024 at 13:15
Place: Building 1532, room 116, Aud G1, Matematisk Institut, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 118 , 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Investigation of Fatty Acid-Modified Oligonucleotide Association with Albumin for Therapeutic Delivery Applications
Contact information: Ana Claudia Siqueira, e-mail: ana.siqueira@inano.au.dk, tel.: +45 55225391
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Henrik Vorum, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aaalborg University, Denmark
Professor Paolo Decuzzi, Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy
Professor Mingdong Dong (chair), iNANO-Physics, iNANO-House, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Associate Professor Kenneth Alan Howard, iNANO-MBG, iNANO-House, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Senior Researcher Morten Foss, iNANO-Physics, iNANO-House, Aarhus University, Denmark
Science Director Jason Cameron, Albumedix/Sartorius, Nottingham, England
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS,

Jens Baggesens Vej 53, building 5221, 8200 Aarhus N.