Research Projects

DNA nanotechnology is a branch of nanotechnology that focuses on designing, studying, and applying synthetic structures based on DNA. This technology has the potential to be used in nanorobotics devices as intelligent drug delivery systems that respond to molecular triggers. The G quadruplex secondary structure, formed in nucleic acids, plays a significant role in this technology. These structures are helical in shape and contain guanine tetrads that can form from one two or four strands. A project plan has been designed to construct a smart Heteronanostructure/Nanorobotic device that focuses on loading a specific anti-cancerous drug into a G quadruplex structure and delivering it to the targeted area of pancreatic cancer cells with accurate cell trafficking and targeting using conjugating magnetic fluorescent nanoparticles. The design process has been compartmentalized into different device components, including magnetic field propulsion, a payload chamber, a navigator, and a sensor to detect pancreatic cancer cells. The nucleolin-targeting G-quadruplex serves as both a targeting domain and a molecular trigger for the mechanical opening of the quadruplex nanorobot. The anti-cancer drug inside is exposed and worked at the tumor site. Using pancreatic tumor-bearing mouse models, the researchers aim to demonstrate that intravenously injected quadruplex nanorobots should be directed towards the targeted pancreatic cancer cell surface using an external magnetic field, which will not harm the animal body and inhibit tumor growth. During the journey, the different conformations of the drug loaded magnetofluoro nanoparticles conjugated quadruplex stable structures can be tracked systematically, providing controllable drug release at the target site.

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