We intend to create new silica and composite nanomaterials based on linear and star-shaped block-copolymers that become building blocks for (non-)covalently bound supramolecular self-assemblies of nano, micro and macro size. External conditions necessary for self-assembling and disassembling (temperature, pH, ionic strength, polarity and solvent composition) will be analysed. Using the manageable intermolecular self-assembling, we will prepare new functional nanoscopic objects and materials with activity towards preferential condensation of silicic acid in presence of amphiphilic polymers. The actual internal structure in respect to expected structure will be investigated experimentally (light scattering, NMR, rheology, electron microscopy).

The project is devoted to the experimental study of diatom algae and siliceous sponges using specific markers as well as the development of approaches for gentle removal of diatom siliceous cell walls. The work includes the following main efforts: to work through the procedure of the diatom frustules "soft" opening by the high-frequency ultrasound generated by the action of a terahertz free electron laser; to develop the syntheses of fluorescently tagged carboxyl-containing oligomers (up to 30 ~COOH groups) for studying siliceous sponges at the stage of entire organism as well as the stage of cell cultures (primmorphs).

It is planned to synthesize a number of phosphorus-containing polymer ampholytes structurally more related to silaffins (modified proteins supposedly involved in the formation of biogenic silica) than existing synthetic polymers. The condensation of silicic acid in the presence of the new polymers, the structure and properties of the formed composite materials will be studied.

The project is a part of the interdisciplinary activity aimed at establishing the mechanisms of how living species form highly ordered siliceous structures (frustules of diatom algae, spicules of siliceous sponges) and utilization of the acquired knowledge to design new materials via bioinspired methods. A number of long chain polyamines containing up to 20 and even more nitrogen atoms in their chains have earlier been isolated from some marine silicifying organisms. These compounds play an important role in the formation of biogenic silica but their insufficient scrutiny obscures this role. Oligomeric and polymeric amines have a characteristic ability to interact in multiple points with polymeric acids including silicic acid condensation products. These interactions determine the reactivity of polyamines towards biopolymers and control the formation of biosilica. The project objective is to clarify the structure of the biogenic polyamines, reveal regularities of interpolymer reactions with their involvement, and experimentally model the biosilicification processes.

Lung cancer, especially the invasive form, is prevalent in India and Russia and current therapeutic strategies are insufficient to extend the survival period of the patients and annihilate the cancer. Gene therapy offers a promising strategy that can prevent the invasiveness of lung cancer thereby improving the survival prognosis for the patients. The success of gene therapy primarily depends on the carrier system employed. An effective carrier is necessary to ensure complete complexation of the siRNA, enable site-specific internalization in to lung cancer cells, escape from the endosome and release the siRNA in to the cytosol. The present work explores the effectiveness of two types of carrier systems for delivery of anti-VEGF siRNA to silence VEGF expression in cancer cells. The results of the project will pave way for the emergence of next generation of polymeric gene delivery systems. Their potential will be estimated with in vitro and in vivo models of lung cancer using specific si-RNA for gene silencing. The impact of the project is not restricted to lung cancer treatment but also includes other gene silencing approaches and genetic engineering. As the polymeric components proposed to be used in this work have demonstrated adjuvant action against some proteins in earlier work by the Russian team, the evaluation of the polyplexes for adjuvant action against MUC-1, a glycosylated transmembrane protein overexpressed in lung cancer that has been implicated in invasiveness and aggressiveness of the cancer, will be another unique outcome of the project. The ability to serve as a gene delivery vehicle besides demonstrating adjuvant properties confers multi-modal action to the polymeric carriers explored in this work. The results of the project will open new vistas for the use of these carriers for drug/gene delivery applications for addressing other complications also.

The model of how siliceous nanoparticles behave in aqueous phase will be amplified to describe the formation of frustules under the influence of cytoskeleton and simultaneous dehydration by means of aquaporins. The relationship between the ability of siliceous particles to condense during the dehydration and their structure and charge will be revealed.