NU 2018-071
INVENTORS
Chad Mirkin*
Anthony Sprangers
Adam Ponedal
SHORT DESCRIPTION
Self-manageable abnormal scar treatment with spherical nucleic acid technology.
BACKGROUND
Despite advances in understanding molecular mechanisms of scar formation and decades of development of scar care development, an effective self-manageable scar treatment is lacking. Abnormal scarring is a consequence of dysregulation in the wound healing process. Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) represent potential treatment options, as they can penetrate skin and have potent gene regulation efficacy.
ABSTRACT
Northwestern researchers have prepared and characterized three SNA construct including gold-core SNAs, liposomal SNAs, and molecular SNAs as treatments for abnormal scar tissue. These SNAs bear antisense oligonucleotides to target the gene for transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-b1), a protein central to abnormal scar formation. In vitro, the SNAs downregulate TGF-b1 protein expression in primary hypertrophic and keloid scar fibroblasts. In vivo, this targeting downregulates TGF-b1 protein expression levels and improves scar histology, determined by scar elevation index. This work suggests the use of SNA gene regulation as an effective, self-administerable scar treatment.
APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES
PUBLICATION
Ponedal, A. et. al. (2020). Attenuation of abnormal scarring using spherical nucleic acids targeting transforming growth factor beta 1. ACS applied bio materials. 3.12:8603-8610.
IP STATUS
US and international patent applications filed.
Use of various constructs of SNAs in a topical treatment downregulates TGF-b1 expression levels, resulting in improved scar histology in vivo.