In-vivo Non-viral Placental Gene Modulation

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorUrschitz, Johann
dc.contributor.authorElston, Marlee Jo
dc.contributor.departmentCell and Molecular Biology
dc.date.accessioned2021-02-08T21:16:30Z
dc.date.available2021-02-08T21:16:30Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.degreePh.D.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10125/73315
dc.subjectMolecular biology
dc.subjectCellular biology
dc.subjectDevelopmental biology
dc.subjectgene delivery
dc.subjectplacenta
dc.subjectpregnancy
dc.subjectsonoporation
dc.subjecttransgenic
dc.subjectultrasound
dc.titleIn-vivo Non-viral Placental Gene Modulation
dc.typeThesis
dcterms.abstractThe placenta is critical to fetal development, health during pregnancy and the long-term health of the offspring because the placenta contributes to controlling the intra-uterine environment but placental function is still not completely understood. Currently, the lack of minimally invasive gene modulation methods for placental genes limits the types of investigations that can be performed. Safe and efficient gene therapy to the placenta opens a myriad of possibilities. Additionally, the link(s) between placental function, the intrauterine milieu, fetal health and disease development later in life is poorly understood. In this dissertation I demonstrate, the delivery of gene cassettes non-virally by utilizing ultrasound cavitated microbubbles carrying plasmid DNA as well as the ability to modify the placental genetics by piggyBac mediated transgenesis. In previous studies, these methods have been used to modulate gene expression in a variety of different organs but never in the placenta. The transgene cassette is trophoblast specific and spatial targeting is achieved by use of an unfocused ultrasound transducer. This could have applications in the treatment of fetal growth restriction, intra-uterine growth restriction, fetal overgrowth and pre-eclampsia.
dcterms.extent109 pages
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.publisherUniversity of Hawai'i at Manoa
dcterms.rightsAll UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
dcterms.typeText
local.identifier.alturihttp://dissertations.umi.com/hawii:10854

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Elston_hawii_0085A_10854.pdf
Size:
5.29 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Ph.D. - Cell and Molecular Biology