SBIR-STTR Award

Agave BioSystems proposed to develop a system of Rapidly Adaptable Nanotherapeutics (RANT) by combining advanced bioformatics, with DNA-based nanoparticles, peptide nucleic acid (PNA) antisense oligonucleotides, and cell permeating peptides (CPPs). Advanced bioinformatics computing will allow for the identification of essential and drug resistance genes within the target pathogens. These genes will be used to develop and synthesize PNA based anti-sense oligonucleotides. These PNAs are designed to suppress the growth and destroy the target microorganisms. DNA nanoparticles coated with CPPs will be used to get the anti-sense PNAs into the target microorganisms. Combined, these components will allow for the rapid targeting of essential or drug resistance microbial genes, and the delivery of stable antisense oligonucleotides into the target microorganisms.

Keywords:
Bioinformatics, anti-microbials, antibiotic, Peptide Nucleic Acids, DNA nanoparticles, drug resistance, anti-sense oligonucleotides, DNA dendrimer, cell permeating peptides

Wound management becomes increasingly challenging due to bacterial infections, especially from epidemic drug-resistant strains. To address this problem, Agave BioSystems proposes to develop a RANT (Rapidly Adaptable Nanotherapeutics) breadboard system built upon the modules successfully established in Phase I of this work. The proposed breadboard system will use genomic sequencing data generated from wound pathogens to identify unknown pathogens and gene targets. These targets will serve as the basis for design of antisense PNA sequences to be incorporated into a PNA-CPP modified DNA nanoparticle. The pathogen-specific, ad hoc-developed nanoparticles are anticipated to possess characteristics of high efficacy, stability and penetration abilities to facilitate effective and specific elimination of emerging drug resistant microbes.

Keywords:
Drug-Resistance, Bacteria Pathogen, Pna, Cpp, Dna Nanoparticle, Bioinformatics, Antisense, Wound Infection