Walifa Waqar

Ms. Walifa Waqar


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

7Years (2020-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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29 January 2024 in Pharmaceuticals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IKIshaq N. Khan
Ishaq N. Khan
SNShiza Navaid
Shiza Navaid
WWWalifa Waqar
Walifa Waqar
DHDeema Hussein
Deema Hussein
NUNajeeb Ullah
Najeeb Ullah
AJAneela Javed
Aneela Javed
Significant progress has been made in the field of gene therapy, but effective treatments for brain tumors remain challenging due to their complex nature. Current treatment options have limitations, especially due to their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and precisely target cancer cells. Therefore options that are safer, more effective, and capable of specifically targeting cancer cells are urgently required as alternatives. This current study aimed to develop highly biocompatible natural biopolymeric chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) as potential gene delivery vehicles that can cross the BBB and serve as gene or drug delivery vehicles for brain disease therapeutics. The efficiency of the CNPs was evaluated via in vitro transfection of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-tagged plasmid in HEK293-293 and brain cancer MG-U87 cell lines, as well as within in vivo mouse models. The CNPs were prepared via a complex coacervation method, resulting in nanoparticles of approximately 260 nm in size. In vitro cytotoxicity analysis revealed that the CNPs had better cell viability (85%) in U87 cells compared to the chemical transfection reagent (CTR) (72%). Moreover, the transfection efficiency of the CNPs was also higher, as indicated by fluorescent emission microscopy (20.56% vs. 17.79%) and fluorescent-activated cell sorting (53% vs. 27%). In vivo assays using Balb/c mice revealed that the CNPs could efficiently cross the BBB, suggesting their potential as efficient gene delivery vehicles for targeted therapies against brain cancers as well as other brain diseases for which the efficient targeting of a therapeutic load to the brain cells has proven to be a real challenge.

1 November 2020 in Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
SASidra Asghar
Sidra Asghar
WWWalifa Waqar
Walifa Waqar
MUMuhammad Umar
Muhammad Umar
SMSobia Manzoor
Sobia Manzoor