Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

First Advisor

Upal Roy

Second Advisor

Veerachandra Yemmireddy

Third Advisor

Ahmed Touhami

Abstract

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is widely used to treat HIV infection, but it fails to eradicate viral reservoirs, such as microglia in the brain, leading to HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND). Advances in nanomedicine have enabled the development of targeted drug delivery systems, and nanodiamonds (NDs) and fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) have emerged as a potential solution due to their biocompatibility, non-toxic nature, and efficiency as drug carriers. Our study builds on previous findings that NDs can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), aiming to utilize NDs and FNDs for their added traceability. We propose a multifunctional nanodrug platform that leverages NDs and FNDs to traverse BBB junctions and target microglial cells harboring the virus. Our comprehensive in vitro assessments, including cytotoxicity assays and immunocytochemical analyses, have established the biocompatibility of NDs and their ability to attach to cell membranes without inducing toxicity in human microglial cells. We hypothesize that once within the brain, the drug loaded NDs and FNDs will release their payload to microglia, thereby reducing viral presence and ameliorating neurological symptoms in people with HIV (PWH). This nanodrug platform holds promise for significantly improving outcomes by addressing the limitations of current cART in reaching brain reservoirs and thereby enhancing the quality of life for PWH.

Comments

Copyright 2024 Ebenezer Owusu.

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/utrgv.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/pqdtglobal1/dissertations-theses/utilizing-nanodiamond-antiretroviral-drug/docview/3085292277/sem-2?accountid=7119

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