Speaker Details

Biography

Saber Hussain, Senior Scientist, Nanobiotechnology Group Lead, Molecular Bioeffects Division, AFRL, Ohio and full affiliated Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Wright State School of Medicine, Dayton, OH. Dr. Hussain began (1987) his scientific career as a toxicology research fellow at the highly regarded Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) and received his doctorate degree in 1991. Here, his novel exploration of heavy metal biotransfer between different proteins in complex biological environment led to a series of prestigious research fellowships in Italy, Switzerland, and the U.S. Dr. Hussain’s research interests transitioned into elucidating fundamental interaction of engineered nanomaterials with biological system with a special focus on fundamental biomolecular interaction of engineered nanomaterials and potential toxicity arising from the physicochemical properties of nanoscale structures. His research addressing biomolecular interaction of nanomaterials has resulted in author/co-authorship of 100 peer-reviewed publications, several book chapters, and above 200 technical abstracts. He is currently an Associate Editor of Toxicological Sciences and serves as an editorial member of several other toxicology journals including Nanotoxicology Journal. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and Fellow of US Air Force Research Laboratory. He serves as an expert reviewer for several government and private organizations. Dr. Hussain has been the recipient of SOT-AstraZeneca traveling lectureship award and numerous scientific awards and has established a strong collaborative network with over 25 organizations of national and international repute.

Abstract

Application of Cutting Edge Technologies to Understand Biomolecular Interaction of Engineered Nanomaterials: Innovation & Challenges

The presentation will address the dynamic applications of cutting edge technologies to further define the fundamental knowledge about the interface between biology and ENMs. This introductory discussion will provide a presentation overview of our recent accomplishments to obtain key ENM data to date and end with our current novel studies. Our current novel work is applying CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing systems, a powerful new molecular tool, to revolutionize our understanding of the nano-bio interactions with ENMs. Our lab is utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 system to “knockout” genes in a cellular model that are responsible for a protein that contributes to endocytosis (Dynamin-2). Our results demonstrate that Dynamin-2 plays a functional role in ENMs-induced cellular toxicity. Our knockout cell lines provided evidence that less intracellular ENMs are required to induce apoptosis. Additionally, our lab is investigating mitochondrial dynamics under the influence of ENMs based on the ENMs surface properties. Our results show exposures to ENMs induced alterations of mitochondrial structural dynamics that were correlated with organelle elongation of individual mitochondrion, changes in the interconnectivity of the mitochondrial network, and loss in mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, our lab is evaluating the role that substrate presentation conditions including modulus, substrate stiffness, and dynamic tension have on cultured cell growth and these solid phase conditions on subsequent interactions with ENMs. Our results found that substrate modulus, topography, and dynamic mechanical tensions play a critical role in the ENMs biological interface and have an impact on ENM cellular fate. This presentation will address the dynamic applications of cutting edge technologies to further advance fundamental knowledge regarding the interface between biology and ENMs.