Nanotechnologies for gene and cell reprogramming

Loss of cellular function is involved in disease and aging, and in turn, contributes to organismal decline. We are leveraging the properties of materials at the nanoscale to engineer strategies to either restore or augment cellular function through genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic reprogramming, among others. For example, nanomaterials can be used to customize the topography and mechanical properties of artificial microenvironments where cells are cultured – in vitro – or hosted – in vivo. These mechanically defined environments can, for example, reprogram stem cells to bias their differentiation towards specific lineages, or immune cells, to activate them against specific infectious or malignant threats. Nanoparticles can also be used as delivery vectors of a variety of biomolecules (either encapsulated or attached to their surface) and protect them from degradation in the organism while promoting their delivery to specific sites in the body, minimizing off-target effects. Our teams are deploying these strategies to tackle cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and chronic pain, among other ailments.

Researchers specializing in theme:

Irene de Lazaro, David Truong, Nathalie Pinkerton, Weiqiang Chen