Focus areas

• Natural products/medicinal

Research interests

Dr. Salem's research interests are primarily focused on self-assembling systems, the rational design of novel drug and gene delivery systems and on the development of vaccines that stimulate potent antigen-specific immune responses.  Dr Salem's laboratory applies microfabrication techniques to develop novel drug and gene delivery devices and to optimize control over polymer-cell interactions. The group is currently exploring the synergistic application of polymer particle technology,  CpG oligonucleotides, adenoviruses and heat shock protein therapy for generating sustained stronger immune responses against tumors.

Recent publications

K. Ebeid, X. Meng, K.W. Thiel, A. Do, S.M. Geary, A. S. Morris, E.L. Pham, A. Wongrakpanich, Y.S. Chhonker, D.J. Murry, K.K. Leslie, A.K. Salem. Synthetically Lethal Nanoparticles for Treatment of Endometrial Cancer. Nature Nanotechnology. 2018.

M.C. Coleman, J.E. Goetz, M.J. Brouillette, D. Seol, M.C. Willey, E.B. Petersen, B. Khorsand, A.S. Morris, A.K. Salem, D.C. Fredericks, T.O. McKinley, J.A. Martin. Mitochondrial Responses to Intraarticular Fracture are a Disease-Modifying Target for Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis Prevention. Science Translational Medicine. 2018.

B. Khorsand, N. Nicholson, A. Do, J.E. Femino, J.A. Martin, E. Petersen, B. Guetschow, D.C. Fredericks, A.K. Salem. Regeneration of bone using synergistic FGF2 and BMP2 gene delivery in a diaphyseal long bone radial defect diabetic rabbit model. Journal of Controlled Release. 2017. 

K.K. Ahmed, S.M. Geary, and A.K. Salem. Surface engineering tumor cells with adjuvant-loaded particles for use as cancer vaccines. Journal of Controlled Release. 2017. 

K.S. Worthington, B.J. Green, M. Rethwisch, L.A. Wiley, B.A. Tucker, and C.A.Guymon and A.K. Salem. Neuronal Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells on Surfactant Templated Chitosan Hydrogels. Biomacromolecules. 2016.

S. Elangovan*, B. Khorsand*, A. Do, L. Hong, A. Dewerth, M. Kormann, R.D. Ross, D.R. Sumner, C. Allamargot, and A.K. Salem. Chemically modified RNA activated matrix induced bone regeneration. Journal of Controlled Release. 2015. *Joint First Authors

S.M. Geary, Q. Hu, V.B. Joshi, N.B. Bowden, A.K. Salem. Diaminosulfide based polymer microparticles as cancer vaccine delivery systems.  Journal of Controlled Release. 2015

D. Rajasekaran#, J. Srivastava#, K. Ebeid#, R. Gredler, M. Akiel, N. Jariwala, C.L. Robertson, X. Shen, A. Siddiq, P.B. Fisher, A.K. Salem*, Devanand Sarkar*. Combination of nanoparticle-delivered siRNA for Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA): an effective therapeutic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Bioconjugate Chemistry. #Joint First Authors *Corresponding Authors. 2015

S. Elangovan, S.R. D’Mello, L. Hong, R.D. Ross, C. Allamargot, D.V. Dawson, C.M. Stanford, G.K. Johnson, D.R. Sumner, and A.K. Salem. The Enhancement of Bone Regeneration by Gene Activated Matrix Encoding for Platelet Derived Growth Factor. Biomaterials. 2014.

 S.M. Geary, C.D. Lemke, D.M. Lubaroff and A.K. Salem. Proposed mechanisms of action for prostate cancer vaccines. Nature Reviews Urology. 2013.

C.D. Lemke, S.M. Geary, V.B. Joshi, A.K. Salem. Antigen coated poly α-hydroxy acid based microparticles for heterologous prime-boost adenovirus based vaccinations. Biomaterials. 2013.

V.B. Joshi, S.M. Geary, A.K. Salem. Biodegradable particles as vaccine delivery systems: Size matters. The AAPS Journal. 2013.

Joshi VB, Geary SM, Gross BP, Wongrakpanich A, Norian LA, Salem AK. Tumor lysate-loaded biodegradable microparticles as cancer vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines, 2013.

Elangovan S, D'Mello SR, Hong L, Ross RD, Allamargot C, Dawson DV, Stanford CM, Johnson GK, Sumner DR, Salem AK. The enhancement of bone regeneration by gene activated matrix encoding for platelet derived growth factor. Biomaterials. 2014;35(2):737-47.

Worthington KL, Adamcakova-Dodd A, Wongrakpanich A, Mudunkotuwa IA, Mapuskar KA, Joshi VB, Allan Guymon C, Spitz DR, Grassian VH, Thorne PS, Salem AK. Chitosan coating of copper nanoparticles reduces in vitro toxicity and increases inflammation in the lung. Nanotechnology. 2013;24(39):395101.

Joshi VB, Geary SM, Salem AK. Biodegradable particles as vaccine antigen delivery systems for stimulating cellular immune responses. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2013;9(12).

Wei N, Yu Y, Joshi V, Schmidt T, Qian F, Salem AK, Stanford C, Hong L. Glucocorticoid receptor antagonist and siRNA prevent senescence of human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells in vitro. Cell Tissue Res. 2013;354(2):461-70.

D'Mello SR, Yoo J, Bowden NB, Salem AK. Microparticles prepared from sulfenamide-based polymers. J Microencapsul. 2013 Jul 18. [Epub ahead of print].

Geary SM, Lemke CD, Lubaroff DM, Salem AK. The combination of a low-dose chemotherapeutic agent, 5-fluorouracil, and an adenoviral tumor vaccine has a synergistic benefit on survival in a tumor model system. PLoS One. 2013;8(6):e67904.

Geary SM, Salem AK. Prostate cancer vaccines: Update on clinical development. Oncoimmunology. 2013;2(5):e24523.

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