Phd Degree / Doktora
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/11147/2869
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Doctoral Thesis Development of Novel Polymeric Carriers for Gene Therapy(01. Izmir Institute of Technology, 2021) Zelçak, Aykut; Bulmuş Zareie, Esma VolgaThe development of effective delivery systems is a limiting step in gene therapy. In this work, new linear block copolymers and star polymers were synthesized, and their siRNA delivery abilities were investigated. For this aim, diblock copolymers consisting of alternative "stealth" polymer blocks (PEG, P(OEGMA) (Poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate)) or P(OEtOxMA) (Poly(oligo(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) methacrylate))); and same cationic polymer block (P(AEAEMA) (Poly(2-((2-aminoethyl)amino)ethyl methacrylate))), have been prepared via RAFT polymerization or combination of CROP and RAFT polymerizations. Additionally, to demonstrate the effect of polymeric architecture, P(OEGMA)/P(AEAEMA) miktoarm star polymers have also been synthesized via RAFT polymerization. Polymers were characterized by SEC, NMR and DLS. siRNA complexation was investigated by gel electrophoresis, DLS, SEM and TEM. Compared to star polymers, linear block copolymers could bind the siRNA molecules easier and tighter due to their more flexible natures and sterically accessible amine groups. The diameter of star polymer-siRNA complexes at N/P of 50 was found to be approximately 20 nm. Compared to this, linear block copolymers formed smaller particles (≈ 10 nm) at the same N/P ratio. The viability of linear block copolymer-treated cells was found to be 50% or better at the polymer concentration of 5 µM. In contrast, star polymers showed more detrimental effects at the same polymer concentrations. P(OEGMA)43-b-P(AEAEMA)45-siRNA complexes at N/P of 50 were taken up by 63.5% and 74.1% of H460 and Mda-mb-231 cells, respectively. In contrast, P(AEAEMA)40-b-P(OEtOxMA)38 complexes showed much lower uptake profile at the same conditions. Remarkably, P(OEGMA)43-b-P(AEAEMA)45-siRNA complexes showed potent gene silencing effect on Mda-mb-231 cells as shown by luciferase and RT-qPCR assays. Overall, it has been found that "stealth" polymers and polymeric architecture have a very significant effect on siRNA delivery.Doctoral Thesis Development of a Plasmonic Biosensor for Detection of Exosomes(Izmir Institute of Technology, 2020) Taykoz, Damla; Bulmuş Zareie, Esma Volga; Tekin, Hüseyin CumhurThe aim of this work was to develop Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) surfaces for quantitative detection of exosomes from different sources. For this aim, gold nanorods (AuNRs) with a mean diameter of 40 nm with an aspect ratio of 2.9 were first synthesized and characterized. The self-assembly of AuNRs on glass wafers were optimized through several experiments. In parallel, PEGylation of cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) stabilized AuNRs was investigated using PEGs with three different molecular weights via LSPR, zeta potential and XPS techniques. PEGylated AuNRs were further self-assembled on silanized microscope slides as confirmed. Surface functionalization of AuNR patterned slides was performed using alkane thiol molecules having carboxylic acid and hydroxyl functional groups and confirmed via XPS, FTIR and zeta potential. Specific antibodies (Ab) were conjugated to the surface following two different methods, i.e. click and NHS/EDC chemistry. To perform click chemistry strategy, ImmuneLink® molecules were conjugated with Abs and the final conjugate was used to functionalize surfaces prepared beforehand using azide bearing molecules. The functionalization procedure was confirmed via XPS FTIR and LSPR spectroscopy. The orientation of the antibodies on the AuNRs patterned surfaces was investigated with LSPR in comparison with conventional EDC/NHS chemistry. The click-chemistry strategy proved to provide conjugation of antibodies through their Fc regions exposing Fab regions better for antigen recognition. Finally, surfaces functionalized with a variety of antibodies were used to detect first a pregnancy-associated protein, PLAP, and then exosomes obtained from human semen samples with pre-determined exosome concentrations. The LoD of the biosensor surfaces was found to be between 103-104 exosomes/mL and 5 ng/mL (0.3 pM) PLAP. Human breast cancer cell culture samples having an unknown concentration of exosomes were further analyzed using the newly developed LSPR biochips and the exosome concentration was determined as 108 exosomes/mL for MCF-7 cell line and 107 exosomes/mL for MDA-MB-231 cell line.