ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER
A National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Center of Excellence

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.

Selected Publications

J. Intra, X.Q. Zhang, R.L. Williams, X. Zhu, A.D. Sandler, A.K. Salem. Immunostimulatory sutures that treat local disease recurrence following primary tumor resection. Biomedical Materials. 2010. 

R. Goforth, A.K. Salem, X. Zhu, S. Miles, X.Q. Zhang, J. Lee, A.D. Sandler. Immune stimulatory antigen loaded particles combined with depletion of regulatory T-cells induce potent tumor specific immunity in a mouse model of melanoma. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy. 58 (4) 517-30 Apr 2009

Y. Krishnamachari, S.M. Geary, C.D. Lemke, A.K. Salem. Nanoparticle delivery systems in cancer vaccines. Pharmaceutical Research. 2010.

X.Q. Zhang, C.E. Dahle, G.J. Weiner, A.K. Salem. A comparative study of the antigen-specific immune response induced by co-delivery of CpG ODN and antigen using fusion molecules or biodegradable microparticles. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2007 Dec;96(12):3283-92 (CA)

X.Q. Zhang, C.E. Dahle, N.K. Baman, N. Rich, G.J. Weiner and A.K. Salem.  Potent antigen-specific immune responses stimulated by co-delivery of CpG ODN and antigens in degradable microparticles.  Journal of Immunotherapy.  30 (5): 469-478 July/August 2007 (CA)

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 2010 (CA).  PMCID: PMC2882054.

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 (CA). 

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 (CA).  PMCID: PMC2603176.

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. 2008 1-13 (CA). 

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

L. Hong, Y. Krishnamachari, D. Seabold, V. Joshi, G. Schneider, A.K. Salem. Intracelluar release of 17-β estradiol from cationic polyamidoamine dendrimer surface modified poly lactic-co-glycolic acid microparticles improves osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stromal cells. Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods. 2010. 

J. Intra, A.K. Salem. Rational design, fabrication, characterization and in vitro testing of biodegradable microparticles that generate targeted and sustained transgene expression in HepG2 liver cells. Journal of Drug Targeting. 2010. 

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 (CA). 

M.E. Pearce, H.Q. Mai, N. Lee, S.C. Larsen, A.K. Salem. Silicalite nanoparticles that promote transgene expression. Nanotechnology (19) 17 Article Number: 175103 2008 (CA). 

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 (CA)