IPN Seminar Series: Remi Veneziano

Title: Designer DNA Nanoarchitectures for Biomedical Applications
Zoom link: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/97102620973?pwd=azNDMUdZZENmMzBFOERFU1hTUVpHZz09 

Scaffolded DNA origami nanoparticles (DNA-NPs) have enabled synthesis of hybrid biomimetic nanostructures that can precisely mimic natural protein assemblies such as viral particles and multi-enzymes systems with unprecedented structural fidelity. Unlike any other types of self-assembled nanomaterials, DNA-NPs can be designed to any prescribed shape and size, and serve as scaffold to organize biomolecules with exquisite control over their stoichiometry and spatial organization. While these biomimetic nanoarchitectures represent a great potential for several biomedical applications ranging from drug delivery to deep in vivo functional bioimaging, the need for development of simple and robust design and assembly methods that would allow expansion of their utilization is critical. Here, I will present our strategy to facilitate design, assembly and functionalization of these DNA-NPs and illustrate their potential for biomedical applications with two specific examples. First, I will describe a novel DNA-NP platform for nanopatterning of antigens that we used to study immune cell activation toward rational development of vaccines against several infectious diseases. Finally, I will show how DNA-NPs could facilitate tissue engineering with a novel method allowing temporal control of biomolecule release in hydrogels.

About the speaker: Rémi Veneziano joined the Department of Bioengineering in the fall of 2018. Veneziano is currently focusing his research on designing and synthesizing new composite nanomaterials, combining structured 3D DNA nanoparticles with proteins, and lipids. His lab is using these constructs to investigate fundamental questions about the role of biomacromolecules nanoscale organization in cell membrane interaction events.

Veneziano was previously postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT under the supervision of Prof. Mark Bathe where he made important contributions in the field of DNA nanotechnology. He notably participated in the development of a new class of 3D DNA nanostructures for biomedical applications and developed a method for large-scale production of long single stranded DNA scaffold. He obtained his PhD in 2013 from Montpellier University, France, for his research on the translocation of proteins across model lipid bilayers.

Presented by Mason's Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience

The Neuroscience Seminar Series is back in a virtual format. Learn about topics and issues related to neuroscience research from experts in multidisciplinary fields. 

Seminars are free and open to everyone.