Multivalent "Artificial Antibody" Based on RNA/Dendrimer-Like Star Polymer Hybrid Nanomaterials

康涅狄格大学材料研究部生物材料项目的这一奖项是为了研究基于RNA适体和可生物降解的树枝状星星状聚合物的缀合物的多价人工抗体，并证明这些新型纳米生物材料具有抗体性质的概念。 早期的研究已经证明，RNA适体，其尺寸小于抗体，显示出最小的免疫原性，独特的结合特异性和亲和力，以及优异的化学和生物稳定性。 该提案包括设计和合成的可生物降解的树状星形聚合物，共轭的RNA适体的聚合物，这些聚合物-RNA共轭物的功能表征。抗体是在生命的长期进化中开发出来的天然纳米材料。 由于其对抗原的高亲和力和特异性，抗体已被用于各个领域。 然而，由于其免疫原性、相对大的分子尺寸以及在制造、运输、储存和化学生物缀合等过程中的低化学和生物稳定性，许多应用可能会受到显著阻碍。合成的合成抗体被期望具有上级特征，例如比天然抗体更小的尺寸、环境稳定的结构、可调节的生物降解性和生物相容性。 从这些研究中获得的知识将有助于各种技术应用，例如，靶向药物输送、诊断和生物检测。 人工抗体开发的科学影响将是一个巨大的突破，并将在药物输送、疫苗开发和药物靶向等领域产生巨大影响。 有了这个奖项，王教授和朱教授计划开发一个新的课程，在纳米生物材料和纳米医学与实验室的本科生。作为推广计划的一部分，也是大学达芬奇计划的一部分，研究人员将利用为期一周的教师培训营，让他们接触生物纳米材料的最前沿。 研究成果将通过材料科学研究所的副项目与行业合作，以及在高质量的同行评审期刊上发表文章和在国家和国际会议上发表演讲而广泛传播。

This award to University of Connecticut by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research is to study the multivalent artificial antibody based on conjugates of RNA aptamers and biodegradable dendrimer-like star polymers, and to prove the concept that these novel nanobiomaterials have properties of antibodies. Earlier studies have demonstrated that RNA aptamers, which are of smaller size than antibody show minimal immunogenicity, unique binding specificity and affinity, and excellent chemical and biological stability. The proposal includes design and synthesis of biodegradable dendrimer star-like polymers, conjugation of RNA aptamers to the polymer, and functional characterization of these polymer-RNA conjugates. Antibodies are natural nanomaterials that have been developed over a long-term evolution of life. Because of their high affinity and specificity to antigens, antibodies have been used in various areas. Many applications, however, can be significantly hindered because of their immunogenicity, relatively large molecular size, and low chemical and biological stability during manufacturing, shipping, storage and chemical bioconjugation, etc. The synthetic antibodies that being synthesized are expected to possess superior features such as smaller size than natural antibody, environmentally stable structure, tunable biodegradability, and biocompatible property. The knowledge developed from these studies would be useful for various technological applications, e.g., targeted drug delivery, diagnosis and biodetection. The scientific impact in the development of artificial antibodies would be an enormous breakthrough, and would have huge impacts in the fields of drug delivery, vaccine development and drug targeting among others. With this award, Professors Wang and Zhu plan to develop a new course in nanobiomaterials and nanomedicine with hands on laboratory for undergraduate students. As part of the outreach program and as part of the Da Vinci program at the University, the investigators will utilize one week training camp for teachers to expose them to the cutting edge of bionanomaterials. Research results will be broadly disseminated by collaborations with industries through the Associate Programs at the Institute of Materials Science, as well as by publications in quality peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and international meetings.