Development of novel nanoparticle formulations for therapeutic in vivo lncRNA knockdown and circRNA-mediated oncomiR inhibition
Brief description of the research topic (english): Levels of certain non-coding RNAs (short microRNAs (miRNAs) or longer non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)) may be pathologically elevated in cancer, rendering them interesting candidates for therapeutic inhibition. On the one hand, this is addressed via an lncRNA knockdown in colon and gastric carcinoma cells. Upregulated oncogenic miRNAs (OncomiRs) may be targets for inhibition as well. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent attractive drug candidates, by binding and inhibiting OncomiRs. Both strategies, however, heavily rely on the efficient delivery of the RNAs to their site of action.
The project P04 within the DFG Research Unit RU5433 "RNA in Focus" covers the further development of polymer-based nanoparticles of the Aigner group. The focus is on the development, characterization and testing of novel, optimized nanoparticles as basis for RNA therapeutics, in particular aiming at the knockdown of oncogenic lncRNAs and the therapeutic application of circRNAs for miRNA inhibition.
