Aliasger Salem, Ph.D. (Associate Member)
Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutics, University of Iowa

http://www.pharmacy.uiowa.edu/pharmaceutics/people/Salem.htm

Research Interest    

Dr. Salem's research interests focus primarily on self-assembling systems, the rational design of novel drug and gene delivery systems and the development of sophisticated scaffolds for tissue-specific regeneration. With respect to tissue engineering, Dr Salem's laboratory applies microfabrication techniques to novel biomaterials to provide spatial control over tissue formation and to integrate minimally invasive scaffold delivery strategies. The Salem laboratory has developed polyamidoamine dendrimers on biodegradable microparticles for plasmid DNA gene delivery. He is also applying this technology for the delivery of RNAi based therapeutics. Controlled release of plasmid DNA (pDNA) from biodegradable poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microparticles has the potential to enhance transgene expression. However, barriers to this approach include limited encapsulation efficiency, pDNA damage during fabrication and confinement of the microparticles inside phagolysosomal compartments. His group has demonstrated that combining PLGA with poly ethyleneimine (PEI) can improve protection of pDNA during fabrication, increase encapsulation efficiencies and impart the PLGA microparticles with the capacity to escape the phagolysosomal compartments. Dr. Salem brings considerable chemistry expertise to the Center, enhancing developmental efforts of novel non-viral gene transfer vectors.

Selected Publications:

A. Petushkov, J. Intra, J.B. Graham, S.C. Larsen, A.K. Salem. Effect of Crystal Size and Surface Functionalization on the Cytotoxicity of Silicalite-1 Nanoparticles. Chemical Research in Toxicology. 2009

J. Intra, A.K. Salem. Fabrication, characterization and in vitro evaluation of poly lactic-co-glycolic acid microparticles loaded with polyamidoamine-plasmid DNA dendriplexes for applications in non-viral gene delivery. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2009

J. Intra, A.K. Salem. Characterization of the transgene expression generated by branched and linear polyethylenimine (PEI)-plasmid DNA nanoparticles in vitro and after intraperitoneal injection in vivo. Journal of Controlled Release (130) 129-138 2008

M.E. Pearce, H.Q. Mai, N. Lee, S.C. Larsen, A.K. Salem. Silicalite nanoparticles that promote transgene expression. Nanotechnology (19) 175103 2008

J. Intra, J.M Glasgow, H. Q. Mai, A.K. Salem. Pulsatile release of biomolecules from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chips with hydrolytically degradable seals. Journal of Controlled Release (127) 280-287 2008

J.D. Clapper, M.E. Pearce, C.A. Guymon, A.K. Salem. Biotinylated biodegradable nanotemplated hydrogel networks for cell interactive applications. Biomacromolecules (9) 1188-1194 2008

Y. Krishnamachari, M.E. Pearce, A.K. Salem. Self-assembly of cell-microparticle hybrids. Advanced Materials. 20 (5): 989-993 Mar 2008

X.Q. Zhang, J. Intra, A.K. Salem. Comparative study of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)-poly ethyleneimine-plasmid DNA microparticles prepared using double emulsion methods. Journal of Microencapsulation. (25) 2008 1-13

A.O. Abbas, M.D. Donovan, A.K. Salem. Formulating PLGA particles for plasmid DNA delivery. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 97(7):2448-61 July 2008

X.Q. Zhang, J. Intra, A.K. Salem. Conjugation of polyamidoamine dendrimers on biodegradable microparticles for non-viral gene delivery. Bioconjugate Chemistry. 2007 Nov-Dec;18(6):2068-76

Publications from PubMed