From Nano Shape & Self Recognition to Flexibility in Cancer Treatment and Differentiation
dennis discher
University of Pennsylvania
Dennis Discher is the Robert D. Bent Professor at the University of Pennsylvania (since 1996) and Director of Penn's NIH-funded Physical Sciences in Oncology Center. He is an elected member of the US National Academy of Medicine and the US National Academy of Engineering. He has delivered 500 talks to diverse groups and coauthored more than 250 publications (>37,000 citations) that range in topic from self-assembling polymers and their application in disease to matrix elasticity effects on stem cells. Service includes chairing of NIH study sections (Gene & Drug Delivery) and membership on the Editorial Board for Science.
Abstract
From viruses to tissue matrices, biology is filled with remarkable polymeric structures that motivate mimicry with goals of both clarifying and exploiting biological principles. Filamentous viruses inspired our development... [ view full abstract ]
From viruses to tissue matrices, biology is filled with remarkable polymeric structures that motivate mimicry with goals of both clarifying and exploiting biological principles. Filamentous viruses inspired our development and computations of worm-like polymer micelles – ‘filomicelles’ – that persist in the circulation and deliver even better than spheres [1]. However, particles of any type interact with innate immune molecules and also phagocytes while nearby ‘Self’ cells are spared due to a polypeptide that limits phagocytic clearance [2]. The phagocyte’s cytoskeleton forcibly drives the decision downstream of adhesion, proving analogous to how matrix elasticity directs stem cell fate [3, 4].
[1] Y. Geng, P. Dalhaimer, S. Cai, R. Tsai, M. Tewari, T. Minko, and D.E. Discher. Shape effects of filaments versus spherical particles in flow and drug delivery. Nature Nanotechnology (2007) 2: 249-255.
[2] P.L. Rodriguez, T. Harada, D.A. Christian, D.A. Pantano, R.K. Tsai, and D.E. Discher. Minimal 'Self' peptides that inhibit phagocytic clearance and enhance delivery of nanoparticles. Science (2013) 339: 971-975.
[3] A. Engler, S. Sen, H.L. Sweeey, and D.E. Discher. Matrix elasticity directs stem cell lineage specification. Cell (2006) 126: 677-689.
[4] J. Swift, I.L. Ivanovska, … and D.E. Discher. Nuclear Lamin-A Scales with Tissue Stiffness and Enhances Matrix-directed Differentiation. Science (2013) 341: 1240104-1 to 15.
Authors
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dennis discher
(University of Pennsylvania)
Topic Areas
Nanomedecine for cancer diagnosis & therapy , Tissue engineering and regenerative nanomedicine
Session
PL2b » Plenary Speeches (10:45 - Thursday, 29th September, Amphitheatre 25)
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