Research Projects
Research Directions
SETTING UP CONDITIONS FOR THE SCREENING OF CHEMICAL LIBRARIES
LOOKING FOR COMPOUNDS AFFECTING MOLECULAR CHAPERONE
ESPRESSION
Recent scientific developments increasingly indicate that the
molecular chaperone system is actively involved in cancerogenesis,
neurodegeneration and cardiovascular disorders. The master
regulator of molecular chaperone expression at the level of
transcription is the heat shock factor (HSF). Development of drugs
activating or repressing HSF is an important pharmacological goal.
The objectives of our project include the creation of yeast strains
that later will be utilized in high-throughput screens of chemical
libraries for compounds affecting the HSF function. It will require
engineering new gene reporter constructs and evaluating screening
systems with known HSF - affecting compounds.
INVESTIGATIN OF MECHANISM OF CHROMATIN REMODELING AT HEAT SHOCK
GENE PROMOTERS
Chromatin remodeling is a fundamental prerequisite to eukaryotic
gene activation and understanding the mechanisms of chromatin
changes is an important question of molecular biology. We will use
yeast heat shock genes as a model system to study chromatin
remodeling mechanisms. In our future study, we will investigate
involvement of different enzymatic activities at yeast heat shock
gene promoters and the reasons chromatin changes vary drastically
even for closely related and co-regulated heat shock genes. More
specifically, we will address the the following questions: do
histone chaperones affect nucleosome translocation rates at heat
shock gene promoters? What ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling
complexes are involved in the regulation of the nucleosome
translocation rate at HSP promoters?
DEVELOPMENT OF
MUCOADHESIVE SUBLINGUAL TABLETS
Mucoadhesive sublingual pellets have a very high potential to
improve the bioavailability of drugs that undergo extensive first
pass metabolism. We are currently studying a number of mucoadhesive
polymers and physical properties of tablets and films.
PI - Sudip K. Das, Ph.D.
Funding - NIDA
LYMPHATIC
DELIVERY OF TAMOXIFEN
The therapeutic profile of a number of chemotherapeutic drugs
could be significantly enhanced by targeting them to the lymphatic
system. We are developing a novel oral delivery system that will
target the chemo drug to the lymphatic system via intestinal
lymphatics.
- PI - Nandita G. Das, Ph.D., R.Ph.
- Funding - NIGMS
CELLULAR
DELIVERY OF RNA/DNA
Cellular uptake of RNA and DNA molecules are due to poor
permeability and surface charge. We are working on the development
of efficient delivery systems for cellular delivery of siRNA.
- PI - Nandita G. Das, Ph.D.
- Funding - Intramural
MODULATION
OF MULTI-DRUG RESISTANCE USING DELIVERY SYSTEMS
A number of pharmacologically effective antineoplastic drugs fail
to establish significant therapeutic activity due to poor
solubility in aqueous medium. We are working on the development of
suitable delivery systems for administration of such drugs, for use
in multidrug resistant tumors.
- PI - Nandita G. Das, Ph.D., R.Ph.
- Funding - Intramural
DELIVERY OF
PROTEIN AND PEPTIDE DRUGS
Major problems in delivery of protein and peptide drugs are
stability of drugs and permeation across the membrane. We are
working on a number of carrier vehicles capable of delivering the
protein drugs.
- PI - Nandita G. Das, Ph.D., R.Ph.
- Funding - Intramural
LONG-CIRCULATING COLLOIDAL SYSTEMS FOR DRUG DELIVERY
We are working on the development of long-circulating colloidal
systems with altered surface physicochemical properties to bypass
mononuclear phagocyte system (also called reticuloendothelial
system) to deliver drugs and bioactive agents for prolonged period
of time.
- PI - Sudip K. Das, Ph.D.
- Funding - Intramural
BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER AND CNS DRUG DELIVERY
We are working on the development of novel techniques to deliver
drugs across the blood-brain barrier. Our objective is to establish
a correlation between the physicochemical properties of the
delivery systems to the in
vivo disposition of the drug and/or carrier.
- PI - Sudip K. Das, Ph.D.
- Funding - Intramural undefined