Ildiko Badea

My research focuses on the use of nucleic acids as biotechnology drugs. Pharmaceutical formulation development is one of the key steps in the development of gene therapy products. Lipid-based soft nanoparticles and nanodiamond-based gene delivery systems, which have the ability to encapsulate or complex DNA and shuttle it into the cells are developed in my laboratory. We use advanced technologies, including synchrotron-based techniques for the systematic evaluation of the transfer efficiency of nucleic acid by these novel nanoparticles. Assessment of the DNA delivery systems will lead to the development of non-invasive nucleic acid-based vaccines, and applications in cell reprogramming.