Frank J. Hernandez

TL;DR: A novel cell-based selection methodology is described that enables the identification of cell-internalizing RNA aptamers for targeting therapeutic siRNAs to HER2-expressing breast cancer cells, and it is demonstrated that, when applied to cells, the HER2 aptamer-Bcl-2 siRNA conjugates selectively internalize into HER2+-cells and silence Bcl- 2 gene expression.

TL;DR: This work substantially truncates A9, an RNA aptamer to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which retains binding activity, functionality, and is amenable to large-scale chemical synthesis for future clinical applications and highlights the utility of existing RNA structural prediction and protein docking techniques that may be generally applicable to developing RNA aptamers optimized for therapeutic use.

TL;DR: The thorough preclinical characterization of an RNA aptamer (A9g) that functions as a smart drug for PC by inhibiting the enzymatic activity of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is described and critical endpoints for the translation of a novel RNA smart drug are demonstrated.

TL;DR: A fast, specific and sensitive homogeneous assay for Staphylococcus aureus detection was developed by measuring the activity of secreted nuclease from the bacteria via a modified DNA oligonucleotide, formed by nucleic acid oligos and magnetic or mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

TL;DR: C4-3 is a potentially useful therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases in which reduced TrkB activation has been implicated and it is anticipated that the cell-based aptamer selection approach used here will be broadly applicable to the identification of aptamer-based agonists for a variety of cell-surface signaling receptors.