Date of Award
Fall 12-2023
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Degree Type
Thesis
Abstract
Adenovirus (Ad) has been the ideal cargo delivery mechanism, and its moderate immunological response makes it ideal for in vivo gene therapies since its discovery in 1953. However, the robust immunogenicity of the Ad capsid and low vaccine absorption via mucous membranes and epithelium put a limit on the process of developing intranasal vaccines. Efforts are being made to enhance the effectiveness of Ad vectors and numerous studies have demonstrated the remarkable capacity of human serum albumin (HSA) to extend plasma half-life and facilitate targeted intranasal delivery. In this study, we devised an innovative method for employing the Catcher/Tag molecular glue to shield Ad with HSA at a molecular precision level. The incorporation of Catcher/Tag technology provides us with a high degree of flexibility and precision in manipulating the construction process. This strategy circumvents the problem of re-designing and re-producing recombinant HSA-Ad vectors and allows us to select HSA shielding sites and proportions more efficiently.
Language
English (en)
Chair
David T. Curiel, Department of Radiation Oncology
Committee Members
Michael Vahey, Jai Rudra
Included in
Biological Engineering Commons, Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Engineering Commons, Other Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons