Successful gene therapy relies on a rational design approach which considers the distinctive structural requirements that are necessary to create an efficient and safe gene carrier. Cationic lipids, polymers, and dendrimers are among the most promising synthetic non-viral vectors so far. Combination of their essential features led to the realization of hybrid systems for prospective use as gene vehicles.

Selected Publications

• Double-degradable responsive self-assembled multivalent arrays – temporary nanoscale recognition between dendrons and DNA. A. Barnard, P. Posocco, M. Fermeglia, A. Tschiche, M. Calderón, S. Pricl, and D.K. Smith. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry (2014),12, 446-455.
• Glycin-terminated dendritic amphiphiles for nonviral gene delivery. S. Malhotra, H. Bauer, A. Tschiche, A. Staedtler, A. Mohr, M. Calderón, V. Parmar, L. Hoeke, S. Sharbati, R. Einspanier, R. Haag, Biomacromolecules 13 (2012),3087–3098.
• Investigating the Effects of a PEG Additive on the Biomolecular Interactions of Self-Assembled Hybrid Nanoscale Architectures. A. Barnard, M. Calderón, A. Tschiche, R. Haag, D.K. Smith, Org. Biomol. Chem. 10 (2012), 8403-8409.
• Degradable Self-Assembling Dendrons for Gene Delivery – Experimental and Theoretical Insights into the Barriers to Cellular Uptake. A. Barnard, P. Posocco, S. Pricl, M. Calderón, R. Haag, M.E. Hwang, V.W. Shum, D.W. Pack, D.K. Smith, Journal of the American Chemical Society 133 (2011), 20288-20300.
• Dendritic polyglycerols with oligoamine shells show low toxicity and high siRNA transfection efficiency in vitro. W. Fischer, M. Calderón, A. Schulz, I. Andreou, M. Weber, R. Haag, Bioconjugate Chemistry 21 (2010), 1744-1752.
• In vivo delivery of siRNA to tumors and their vasculature by novel dendritic nanocarriers. P. Ofek, W. Fischer, M. Calderón, R. Haag and R. Satchi-Fainaro, FASEB J. 24 (2010), 3122-3134.