PhD Candidate
GEORGIOS NISTIKAKIS
gnistikakis@materials.uoc.gr
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Title
Rational Design of Bionspired Protein and Peptide Materials Based on Self-assembling Natural Systems
Supervisor
MITRAKI ANNA, Professor, Materials Science & Technology Dept. - UOC
Committee Members
VAMVAKAKI MARIA, Professor, Materials Science & Technology Dept. - UOC
CHATZINIKOLAIDOU MARIA, Associate Professor, Materials Science & Technology Dept. - UOC
Abstract
Inspired by the intrinsic property of viral capsid components to self-assemble, virus-like particles (VLPs) consist of viral proteins that interact with each other and spontaneously form stable hollow capsids, while exhibit great biocompatibility and possibility of easy modification. Τhis PhD research focuses on the self-assembly study of the structural capsid protein hexon of the human adenovirus (HAdV) and modifications of it, towards the development of VLPs for nano-technological applications. VLP study and research aims at their utilization as vehicles for delivering drugs, nanoparticles and nucleic acids, or for the development of gene and cancer therapies, vaccines, bio-imaging etc. Due to the broad field of those applications, the development of vehicle candidates with varying combinations of dimensions, conformations and functionalities is essential. The ultimate goal is the development of hexon VLPs that can be used as a) vehicles for delivery of drugs and nanoparticles, b) vehicles for the display of other viral antigens towards vaccine development. In the long term the creation of hexon VLPs with a broad range of dimensions, conformations and functionalities can be foreseen.