Download PG Candidates - UKZN`s School of Life Sciences

Post Graduate Candidates
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Name: Dr Geraldine Genevive Lazarus
(Post-Doctoral Research Fellow)
BSc Biochemistry & Biological Sci. (University of
Zululand & University of Witwaterstrand),
BSc Hons Biochemistry (University of Zululand),
MSc Biochemistry (University of Zululand),
PhD Biochemistry (University of Kwa-Zulu
Natal)
Telephone: 031 260 8299 (W)
Email: [email protected]
The research involves the design and synthesis of gold
and platinum bimetallic nanoparticles functionalized
with biocompatible polymers such as chitosan and
polyethylene glycol and its interaction with DNA for
gene delivery in mammalian cancer cells. The
mechanistic interpretations are defined by
characterizing the particle size and surface properties
and exploring the unique physical properties for
transporting and uploading the pharmaceuticals in the
required cells providing an effective and selective
means of controlled intracellular release.
Nanotechnology offers attractive alternatives for
cancer therapy and nanoparticles can be engineered
to have multi-functionality serving simultaneously as
imaging contrast agents and gene delivery vehicles.
Supervisor:
Prof Moganavelli Singh
Brief Description of Research
The RNA interference phenomenon refers to the process of
post transcriptional gene silencing mediated by siRNA
which has attracted much attention due to their
therapeutic potential for the treatment of acquired and
inherited diseases. The delivery of these siRNA molecules is
hence crucial and the choice of a suitable carrier is
important.
Aliscia Nicole Daniels (PhD Candidate)
BSc Biochemistry and Microbiology (UKZN),
BSc Hons Biochemistry (UKZN)
MSc Biochemistry (UKZN)
Telephone: 031 260 8299 (W)
Email: [email protected]
Gold nanoparticles have over the years attracted much
interest as potential gene and drug delivery vehicles due to
their desirable physical and chemical properties. In this
study, gold nanoparticles were synthesized and
functionalised with chitosan and polyethylene glycol for the
delivery of siRNA to cancer cells in vitro.
Supervisor
Prof Moganavelli Singh
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Fiona Maiyo (PhD Candidate)
BSc Biochemistry (Moi University),
BSc Hons Biochemistry (Moi University)
MSc Biochemistry (UKZN),
Telephone: 0312608299 (W)
Email:[email protected];
[email protected]
Selenium nanoparticles have found a new role in drug
delivery studies owing to their low toxicity,
biocompatibility, bioactivity, and biodegradability in
vivo. Selenium is an essential micronutrient and plays
a major role in enhancing the activity of several
enzymes whose deficiency is a risk factor for viral
infections and cancer. Use of selenium nanoparticles
in drug delivery and gene therapy has potential to
address current challenges facing cancer
chemotherapy (non-specificity, drug toxicity and
multi-drug resistance).
My research is focused on the synthesis,
functionalization, and characterization of selenium
nanoparticles and their application in in vitro gene
delivery (pDNA, mRNA and siRNA).
Supervisor
Prof Moganavelli Singh
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Liposome-mediated siRNA delivery for cancer therapy
Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a class of short RNA
molecules that is able to induce the natural gene silencing
mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi). Effective silencing
of cancer-causing genes (oncogenes) may be achieved,
provided that appropriately designed siRNA molecules are
successfully introduced. Cationic liposomes, which form
nanostructures upon electrostatic association with siRNA,
have shown promise as siRNA-delivery agents. This study is
aimed at formulating and characterising novel cholesterolbased cationic liposomes and evaluating their efficacy in
the delivery of oncogene-specific siRNA in human cancer
cells.
Saffiya Habib (PhD Candidate)
Supervisor(s)
Prof Moganavelli Singh
Prof Mario Ariatti
BSc Biochemistry & Microbiology (UKZN,
Westville),
BSc Hons Biochemistry (UKZN, Westville)
MSc Biochemistry (UKZN, Westville),
Email: [email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Despite much research into the subject in recent
years, delivery remains the most challenging aspect of
gene therapy. The highly tunable properties of anionic
clays, also known as layered double hydroxides
(LDHs,) lends itself to LDHs being employed in a
diversity of applications, one of them being gene
delivery. Unlike most inorganic nanoparticles that
require chemical and/or biological pre-modification to
Name Nirasha Nundkumar (PhD Candidate)
obtain the desirable properties for cellular delivery,
anionic clays allow for direct loading of genetic
BSc (University of Durban Westville),
BSc Hons Biochemistry (University of Durban material due to their anion-exchange properties. My
Westville)
research involves the development of an efficient clayMSc Biochemistry (University of Durban based inorganic gene delivery system.
Westville),
Telephone: 031 2608788
Email:[email protected]
Supervisor(s)
Prof Moganavelli Singh
Dr. Sooboo Singh
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
The recent merge between gene therapy and
nanotechnology has provided a new powerful platform
which promises to address the safety-efficacy issues that
for decades have limited the clinical application of non-viral
gene delivery modalities.
Name Londiwe Mbatha (PhD candidate)
BSc Biochemistry and Microbiology (UKZN)
BSc Hons Biochemistry (UKZN)
MSc Biochemistry (UKZN)
Consequently,
the
grafting/stabilizing
of
metal
nanoparticles with starburst dendritic polymers eg. poly
(amidoamine) (PAMAM) over the conventional polymers
has proven to be a promising advancement in the design of
highly efficient non-viral gene delivery scaffolds.
My study focuses on designing and evaluating the cytotoxic
profile and the capacity of folate modified PAMAM grafted
gold nanoparticles to deliver different therapeutic genes in
mammalian cancer cells in vitro.
Telephone: 031 260 8299
Email: [email protected]
Supervisor
Prof Moganavelli Singh
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
The major drawbacks in cancer chemo- and bio- therapy
(non-specific toxicity, sub-optimal pharmacokinetics, poor
distribution and inefficient delivery) highlight the need for
the design of stimulus responsive, target-specific, longcirculating and biodegradable delivery platforms.
Jude Akinyelu (PhD Candidate)
B.Tech Biochemistry (FUTA, Nigeria),
B.Tech Hons Biochemistry (FUTA,Nigeria),
MSc Biochemistry (U.I, Nigeria),
Telephone: 031 260 8299 (W)
Email:[email protected]
My current research focuses on the development and
characterization of ligand orchestrated nanocarriers for
receptor mediated delivery of conventional anticancer
drugs and genes.
The real time evaluation of cellular uptake, drug/gene
release profile, cytotoxic effect, transfection ability,
anti/pro- inflammatory potential, and final fate of a range
of fabricated nanoformulations are main objectives in this
project
Supervisor
Prof Moganavelli Singh
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
The pivotal role of the mitochondria in cell death highlights
their potential as targets in cancer chemotherapy. With the
nagging challenge of bioavailability, avenues to
preferentially target cancer mitochondria with compounds
capable of inducing apoptosis have become the focus of
recent research due to their great clinical potential.
The essence of nano-carriers in therapy is in the efficiency
of delivery of payloads to intended sites, whilst ensuring
stability and enhancing pharmacokinetics.
Olakunle Oladimeji (PhD Candidate)
BSc Biochemistry (AAUA),
BSc Hons Biochemistry (AAUA)
MSc Biochemistry (University of Ibadan),
My research is aimed at synthesizing and optimizing
polyphenol-functionalized nanoparticles for mitochondrialtargeted delivery in in vitro and in vivo models.
Telephone: 031 260 8299
Email:[email protected]
Supervisor
Prof Moganavelli Singh
Brief Description of Research
My broader research interest explores use of non-viral
gene delivery methods in treatment of diseases and
disorders of the brain.
Currently, my PhD project specifically explores feasibility of
inorganic nanoparticles in traversing of the blood-brain
barrier for neuro-therapy in vitro, with particular focus on
magnetic nanoparticles.
Name: Seipati Mokhosi (PhD Candidate)
BSc (UKZN),
BSc Hons Microbiology (UKZN)
MSc Biochemistry (UKZN)
Telephone: 031 2607271
Supervisor(s)
Prof Moganavelli Singh
Email:[email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Classical chemotherapeutic approaches present with
various limitations including poor specificity resulting in
high toxicity towards healthy tissue, poor biodistribution,
low circulation time and reduced pharmacokinetics. These
obstacles indicate the importance of formulating a
targeted, biodegradable complex which will remain stable
under various cellular environmental conditions.
My study involves formulating a targeted graphene
quantum dot (GQD’s) drug delivery system, which can
efficiently deliver a combination of anticancer agents to a
target site, through specific receptor-ligand interactions. A
primary objective is to determine the effect of the
nanoparticle on expression of the c-myc oncogene.
Name Lorenzo David (PhD Candidate)
BSc Biochemistry and Genetics (UKZN),
BSc Hons Biochemistry (UKZN)
MSc Biochemistry (UKZN)
Telephone: 031 260 8299
Email: [email protected]
Supervisor:
Prof Moganavelli Singh
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Oral administration of chemotherapeutic drugs is limited
due to poor biodistribution, unspecific interactions, and
short residence time in GI tract. In addition, defective
tumour vasculature and the presence of drug efflux pumps
further impede drug accumulation the tumour. Hence, the
design of a biodegradable mucoadhesive Nano-carrier with
triggered release of the bound drug under specific
conditions will potentially prolong residence time and
alleviate harsh toxicity.
Vareessh (MSc Candidate)
BSc Biochemistry and Microbiology (UKZN),
BSc Hons Biochemistry (UKZN)
Telephone: 031 260 8299
This study investigates Novel Mucoadhesive chitosan
functionalised PtAu bimetallic nanoparticles as attractive
drug delivery platforms of several hydrophilic
chemotherapeutic drugs. A full invitro study will be
conducted to assess toxicity profiles, pharmacokinetics,
bioadhesiveness, and induction of apoptosis.
Supervisor(s)
Prof Moganavelli Singh
Email:[email protected]
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
My work reports on the preparation, characterization
and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles for
gene delivery.
Avril Kirsten Moses (MSc Candidate)
BSc Biology (UKZN),
BSc Hons Biology (UKZN)
Non-viral nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery has
gained interest as an approach to treat various
diseases, such as, cancer. Nanoparticles are explored
as delivery vehicles, as they can encapsulate
therapeutic genetic material and carry it to the
nucleus, and can be used for targeting diseased cells.
Silver nanoparticles are non-toxic to cells and show
great potential in the treatment of various diseases
due to the transport of DNA transgenes into cells.
Telephone: 031 260 8299
Email:[email protected]
Supervisor(s)
Prof M Singh
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles have been explored as
effective drug delivery systems for a variety of therapeutic
agents, including use in bone/tendon tissue engineering,
diabetes, inflammation, and cancer treatments. MSNs have
been proven to possess unprecedented advantages over
traditional nano-based formulations, especially for cancer
therapy. Their low toxicity, high drug loading capacity and
comparatively better biocompatibility to other metal
oxides has increased their desirability as a drug delivery
vehicle.
Thashini Moodley (MSc Candidate)
BSc Biochemistry, Microbiology (NMMU),
BSc Hons Biochemistry (NMMU)
My project will focus on the formulation of MSNs with
appropriate surface modifications to allow for enhanced
cellular uptake and control of its’ surface chemistry to
modulate the delivery of the chemotropic drug
doxorubicin.
Telephone: 031 260 8299
Email: [email protected]
Supervisor(s)
Prof M Singh
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
Dhireshan Singh (MSc Candidate)
BSc Genetics, Microbiology (UKZN),
BSc Hons Genetics (UKZN)
Telephone: 031 260 8299
Cancer is considered to be one of the leading causes of
mortality in the human population accruing a documented
8.8 million deaths in 2015 alone. Liver cancer is recognized
as the 5th most common cause of cancer related deaths, in
which hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common.
Treatment remains to have many side effects and survival
rate is often dependent on early diagnoses. Targeted gene
delivery offers a promising treatment in combating cancer
and selenium nanoparticles (SeNP) have recently been
recognized for their anticancer effects inducing apoptosis.
My study will thus aim to demonstrate the ability and
efficacy of galactose-chitosan-PEG decorated SeNP to
effectively deliver mRNA specifically to hepatocellular
carcinoma cells.
Email:[email protected]
Supervisor(s)
Prof M Singh
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
The blood-brain barrier is a structure that protects the
brain from infectious agents; however, it also prevents the
passage of pharmaceuticals to the brain, complicating the
treatment of neurological disorders.
Jananee (MSc Candidate)
BSc Genetics and Microbiology (UKZN),
BSc Hons Genetics (UKZN)
Nanoparticles are thus being explored as potential drug
delivery vehicles, as they are small enough to cross the
blood-brain barrier. Gold nanoparticles are easily
synthesized, non-toxic to cells, and may be bound to
compounds which allow for targeting of diseased cells.
They show great potential in the treatment of neurogenic
disorders, by allowing the transport of protein, RNA or DNA
drugs across the blood brain barrier.
Telephone: 031 260 8299
Email:[email protected]
Supervisor(s)
Prof M Singh
Brief Description of Research (Max. 100 words)
One of the most significant treatments in HIV-1 infection
has been the combination of drugs targeting the HIV life
cycle with the aim of preventing further destruction of the
host immune system. My current research addresses the
design, synthesis and in vitro evaluation of novel ‘chiral’
anti-viral HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors. Hence
inhibitors comprise two structurally diverse components
which are intended to bind separately to the enzyme
allosteric site and to the active site. However, drug
resistance is a common cause of treatment failure in HIV,
and patient-specific combination therapy has emerged as a
powerful means of combatting this problem. We thus
Preantha Poonan (MSc Candidate)
aimed to design compounds to bind to both the active site
and allosteric site simultaneously. This class of ‘chiral’
BSc Microbiology and Biochemistry (University drugs may therefore be less likely to lead to drug
of KwaZulu - Natal, Westville)
resistance.
BSc Hons Biochemistry (University of KwaZuluNatal, Westville)
MSc Biochemistry (University of KwaZulu- Natal, Supervisor(s)
Westville).
Professor Abindra Gupthar
Telephone: 031 462 4384
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
Professor Mario Ariatti