PhD, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Sean Essex

** ******* ****** #**

**********@*****.***

Cambridge, MA 02140 857-***-****

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Over 5 years of research experience encompassing GLP and at the Center for Pharmaceutical

Biotechnology and Nanomedicine at Northeastern University under the mentorship of Dr. Vladimir

Torchilin

Adept at formulating and optimizing lipid-based and polymeric nanoparticles like micellar delivery

systems loaded with siRNA and small drug molecules like doxorubicin, paclitaxel. Some experience

with liposomes

Well acquainted with in vivo experimental procedures viz. orthotopic and subcutaneous xenograft

tumor model development, organ harvesting, biodistribution/pharmacokinetic, therapeutic efficacy

and toxicity studies

Proficient at in vitro cell culture work including murine and mammalian tumor cell line propagation

and maintenance, cytotoxicity, transfection and intracellular uptake studies

Involved in collaborative interdisciplinary projects that employed formulation preparations for

siRNA delivery

Well versed with protein assays like ELISA and protein detection methods like SDS-PAGE,Western

blot and protein-protein interaction assays like FRET

Extensively performed biophysical characterization viz. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and

expertise at operating instruments viz. Flow cytometer, Xenogen IVIS®, Confocal microscope,

HPLC, Size and Zeta potential analyzers, NanoDrop®, UV and Fluorescence spectrophotometers

and imaging modalities viz. Atomic force microscope (AFM) and the Transmission electron

microscope (TEM)

Published three peer reviewed research articles, one more manuscript (first author; in preparation).

Submitted two book chapters one as first author (both accepted and publication anticipated in 2013)

Recipient of the prestigious 2012 AAPS-NERDG Academic Research Award

Delivered podium presentations and presented research posters at several prestigious conferences

Affiliated with the AAPS student chapter and presently an honorary Rho Chi Beta scholar at

Northeastern University

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Advisor: Dr. Vladimir Torchilin

August 2013

Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Nanomedicine (CPBN)

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Northeastern University

Thesis: “Phoshpolipid-modified polyethylenimine (PLPEI)-based nanocarriers for siRNA delivery in

cancer.”

M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Novel Drug Delivery Systems)

May 2009

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Sean Essex

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Northeastern University

Bachelors in Pharmacy (B.Pharm)

June 2007

Bombay College of Pharmacy

University of Mumbai

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Project#1: P-glycoprotein (P-gp) silencing in a human breast cancer cell model using phospholipid-modified

polyethylenimine

Establishment, maintenance and preservation of mammalian tumor cell lines (human and murine)

Loading the delivery system with siRNA targeting the MDR1 gene that codes for P-gp

Cytotoxicity profile of the carrier in various cancer cell lines

UV and fluorescent spectrophotometry

Confocal and fluorescent microscopy to check the intracellular uptake of the delivery system

Flow cytometry for evaluation of P-gp silencing efficacy

SDS-PAGE for separating mammalian cell culture proteins and isolating P-gp

qRT-PCR and Western blot to evaluate MDR1 gene and P-gp downregulation, respectively

Project#2: Biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of fluorescein-labeled siRNA in a carrier made of

Phospholipid-modified PEI and PEG-PE

Establishment of subcutaneous 4T1 tumor-bearing female BALB/c mice model

Intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous injection procedures

Anesthesia (intraperitoneal:ketamine/xylazine, isoflurane; euthanasia procedures: carbon dioxide

asphyxiation and cervical dislocation)

In vivo fluorescence imaging using the Xenogen IVIS® system and the Kodak in vivo imager

Mouse organ harvesting and tissue homogenization

Project#3: Evaluation of siRNA-drug combination therapy to treat human breast cancer xenograft model in

nude mice

Establishment of orthotopic MCF7/ADR xenograft model in female nude mice

Establishment of subcutaneous MCF7/ADR xenograft model in female nude mice

Combination therapy with siRNA encapsulated in a PEGylated micellar nanocarrier targeted against

MDR1 gene and doxorubicin

Evaluation of MDR1 knockdown in tumors using qRT-PCR

Evaluation of P-glycoprotein downregulation using flow cytometry

Analyzed in vivo toxicity as a result of formulation/drug administration with reference to elevated

liver enzymes (AST, ALT)

Project#4: Preparation and evaluation of transferrin-conjugated polymeric/lipid drug/gene delivery system

Thin Layer Chromatography

Product purification by dialysis

Lyophilization of the polymers

ELISA and BCA protein assay for immunodetection and quantification of transferrin

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Sean Essex

TNBS assay for amine quantification

Size and Zeta potential measurement of the delivery system

Agarose gel electrophoresis to evaluate the siRNA condensation capacity of the delivery system

HPLC (reverse phase) and size exclusion chromatography for determination of encapsulated

paclitaxel and siRNA in the delivery system

PUBLICATIONS

Peer-reviewed articles

1. Navarro, G., R. Sawant, Essex, S. et al. (2011). "Phospholipid–polyethylenimine conjugate-based

micelle-like nanoparticles for siRNA delivery." Drug Delivery and Translational Research 1(1): 25-

33.

2. Navarro G, Sawant R, Biswas S, Essex, S, Tros de Ilarduya C, Torchilin VP. P-glycoprotein

silencing with siRNA delivered by DOPE-modified PEI overcomes doxorubicin resistance in breast

cancer cells. Nanomedicine (Lond.) 2011. 7(1): p. 65-78.

3. Navarro, G., Essex, S., Sawant, R., Biswas, S., Nagesha, D., Sridhar, S., Tros de Ilarduya, C. and

Vladimir P. Torchilin. “Phospholipid-modified polyethylenemine-based nanopreparations for

siRNA-mediated gene silencing: Implications for Transfection and the Role of Lipid Components.”

Nanomedicine (USA): nanotechnology, biology, and medicine.

4. Essex, S., Navarro, Movassaghian, S, Trivedi, M., Sabhachandani, P., Chordia, A. and Vladimir P.

Torchilin “Novel Phospholipid-modified polyethylenimine-based nanoparticles for in vivo siRNA

delivery.” (manuscript in preparation).

Book chapters

1. Essex, S. and Torchilin VP. (author proof currently available). Liposomal formulations for Focal

and Targeted Drug Delivery in Cancer and other diseases In Abraham J. Domb, and Wahid Khan

(Eds.), Advances in Delivery Science and Technology- Focal Drug Therapy. Springer business +

media

2. Navarro, G., S. Essex, et al. (2013). The “Non-viral” Approach for siRNA Delivery in Cancer

Treatment: A Special Focus on Micelles and Liposomes. DNA and RNA Nanobiotechnologies in

Medicine: Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases, Springer Berlin Heidelberg : 241-261.

PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

Poster abstract accepted at the Controlled Release Society annual meeting (CRS 2012)

July, 2012

S. Essex, G. Navarro, A. Chordia and V. Torchilin “Mixed Carrier Made of Phospholipid-modified PEI and

PEG-PE Improves Systemic Delivery of siRNA in Tumors”

Podium presentation at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists annual meeting

(AAPS)-NERDG

April, 2012

S. Essex, G. Navarro, A. Chordia and V. Torchilin “ Novel Polyethylenimine Based Nanocarrier Improves

Systemic Tumoral Delivery of siRNA”.

GRASP 2011 at MCPHS, Boston

June, 2011

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Sean Essex

R. Sawant, G. Navarro, S. Essex, S. Biswas and V. Torchilin "Polymer-lipid Conjugate: A Versatile Platform

for Enhanced Gene Delivery and siRNA-Mediated GFP silencing"

INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE

Industrial intern at Pfizer, India

August 2006

Successfully completed GMP training

Assisted in the formulation and preclinical testing of capsules and tablets

Participated in several departments viz. Warehouse, Production, Analytical, Microbiology, Packaging

and Documentation on a weekly rotational basis

AWARDS AND HONOURS

First place for the Academic Research Awards at the annual AAPS-NERDG meeting

Apr 2012

Rho Chi Beta scholar

Current

RELATED SKILLS

Proficient at data analyzing software viz. Graph Pad Prism 5.0, MS Excel and Image J

Well acquainted with EndNote

Statistical Design of Experiment (DOE) experience

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