Research interests
Dr Shigdar is focused on the development of aptamers, also known as chemical antibodies, for their use in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Dr Shigdar's main focus is on the use of aptamers for the treatment of neurological disorders - brain cancers, brain metastases, and neurodegenerative disorders
Units taught
HMM101 Introduction to Medical Biotechnology
Knowledge areas
Aptamers
Professional activities
President International Society of Aptamers 2016 -
Awards
Smart Geelong Awards - Researcher of the Year 2011 – Population Health and Lifestyle - 'Establishing a Platform for the Generation of RNA Missiles Targeting Cancer Initiating Cells'
Smart Geelong Awards - Early Career Researcher of the Year 2013 - 'Getting the brain to take its medicine – development of a smart platform to treat tumour metastases'
Projects
Aptamers as theranostic agents
Getting the brain to take its medicine
Publications
Cytotoxic effects of aptamer-doxorubicin conjugates in an ovarian cancer cell line
J Henri, M Nakhjavani, S McCoombe, S Shigdar
(2023), Vol. 204, pp. 108-117, Biochimie, France, C1
The Diagnostic Potential of RNA Aptamers against the NS1 Protein of Dengue Virus Serotype 2
R Thevendran, S Rogini, G Leighton, A Mutombwera, S Shigdar, T Tang, M Citartan
(2023), Vol. 12, pp. 1-24, Biology, Basel, Switzerland, C1
Unravelling the Glioblastoma Tumour Microenvironment: Can Aptamer Targeted Delivery Become Successful in Treating Brain Cancers?
B Giles, M Nakhjavani, A Wiesa, T Knight, S Shigdar, R Samarasinghe
(2023), Vol. 15, Cancers, C1
Future of PD-1/PD-L1 axis modulation for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer
M Nakhjavani, S Shigdar
(2022), Vol. 175, pp. 1-11, Pharmacological Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
S Shigdar, L Agnello, M Fedele, S Camorani, L Cerchia
(2022), Vol. 14, pp. 1-20, Pharmaceutics, Basel, Switzerland, C1
M Nakhjavani, R Samarasinghe, S Shigdar
(2022), Vol. 27, pp. 1298-1314, Drug Discovery Today, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Mohsen Sarafraz, Maryam Nakhjavani, Sarah Shigdar, Farid Christo, Bernard Rolfe
(2022), Vol. 173, pp. 121-131, European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
M Nakhjavani, S Shigdar
(2022), Vol. 14, Cancers, Switzerland, C1
Novel detection of nasty bugs, prevention is better than cure
M Strom, T Crowley, S Shigdar
(2021), Vol. 22, pp. 1-19, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Switzerland, C1
Diagnostics and therapeutics in targeting her2 breast cancer: A novel approach
C Vi, G Mandarano, S Shigdar
(2021), Vol. 22, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Switzerland, C1
Aptamers: Cutting edge of cancer therapies
S Shigdar, B Schrand, P Giangrande, V de Franciscis
(2021), Vol. 29, pp. 2396-2411, Molecular Therapy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Jake Mazur, Kislay Roy, Sarah Shigdar, Jagat Kanwar
(2020), pp. 383-422, Advances and Avenues in the Development of Novel Carriers for Bioactives and Biological Agents, London, Eng., B1
J Macdonald, D Denoyer, J Henri, A Jamieson, I Burvenich, N Pouliot, S Shigdar
(2020), Vol. 30, pp. 117-128, Nucleic acid therapeutics, New Rochelle, N.Y., C1
P Dhar, R Samarasinghe, S Shigdar
(2020), Vol. 21, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Switzerland, C1
B Bukari, R Samarasinghe, J Noibanchong, S Shigdar
(2020), Vol. 8, Biomedicines, Switzerland, C1
Mathematical approaches in estimating aptamer-target binding affinity
Ramesh Thevendran, Tholasi Navien, Xin Meng, Kechun Wen, Qiao Lin, S Shigdar, Thean-Hock Tang, Marimuthu Citartan
(2020), Vol. 600, pp. 1-13, Analytical Biochemistry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Ramesh Thevendran, Sarah Shigdar, Thean-Hock Tang, Marimuthu Citartan
(2020), Vol. 323, pp. 530-548, Journal of controlled release, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Radiolabelled aptamers for theranostic treatment of cancer
Umair Khalid, Chris Vi, Justin Henri, Joanna Macdonald, Peter Eu, Giovanni Mandarano, Sarah Shigdar
(2019), Vol. 12, Pharmaceuticals, Basel, Switzerland, C1
M Bauer, M Strom, D Hammond, S Shigdar
(2019), Vol. 24, Molecules, Switzerland, C1
X She, L Chen, Z Yi, C Li, C He, C Feng, T Wang, S Shigdar, W Duan, L Kong
(2018), Vol. 18, pp. 976-989, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, Netherlands, C1
Aptamers as potential therapeutic agents for ovarian cancer
J Henri, J Macdonald, M Strom, W Duan, S Shigdar
(2018), Vol. 145, pp. 34-44, Biochimie, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
EpCAM immunotherapy versus specific targeted delivery of drugs
J Macdonald, J Henri, K Roy, E Hays, M Bauer, R Veedu, N Pouliot, S Shigdar
(2018), Vol. 10, Cancers, Switzerland, C1
Mesoporous silica nanorods toward efficient loading and intracellular delivery of siRNA
L Chen, X She, T Wang, S Shigdar, W Duan, L Kong
(2018), Vol. 20, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, C1
Joanna Macdonald, G Mandarano, Rakesh Veedu, Sarah Shigdar
(2018), Vol. 2, pp. 15-27, Aptamers, Oxford, Eng., C1
RNA aptamers-guided precision cancer medicine
W Duan, T Wang, S Shigdar, P Tran
(2018), Vol. 63, pp. 529-535, BME6 2016 : 6th International Conference on the Development of Biomedical Engineering in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, E1
Challenges and opportunities for siRNA-based cancer treatment
T Wang, S Shigdar, H Shamaileh, M Gantier, W Yin, D Xiang, L Wang, S Zhou, Y Hou, P Wang, W Zhang, C Pu, W Duan
(2017), Vol. 387, pp. 77-83, Cancer Letters, Ireland, C1
J Macdonald, J Henri, L Goodman, D Xiang, W Duan, S Shigdar
(2017), Vol. 8, pp. 777-784, ACS Chemical Neuroscience, United States, C1
Aptamer-mediated survivin RNAi enables 5-fluorouracil to eliminate colorectal cancer stem cells
H Alshamaileh, T Wang, D Xiang, W Yin, P Tran, R Barrero, P Zhang, Y Li, L Kong, K Liu, S Zhou, Y Hou, S Shigdar, W Duan
(2017), Vol. 7, Scientific Reports, England, C1
Transforming doxorubicin into a cancer stem cell killer via EpCAM aptamer-mediated delivery
D Xiang, S Shigdar, A Bean, M Bruce, W Yang, M Mathesh, T Wang, W Yin, P Tran, H Shamaileh, R Barrero, P Zhang, Y Li, L Kong, K Liu, S Zhou, Y Hou, A He, W Duan
(2017), Vol. 7, pp. 4071-4086, Theranostics, Australia, C1
Aptamers and glioblastoma: Their potential use for imaging and therapeutic applications
E Hays, W Duan, S Shigdar
(2017), Vol. 18, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Switzerland, C1
Development of cell-specific aptamers: Recent advances and insight into the selection procedures
K Rahimizadeh, H Al Shamaileh, M Fratini, M Chakravarthy, M Stephen, S Shigdar, R Veedu
(2017), Vol. 22, Molecules, Switzerland, C1
Application of aptamers in histopathology
S Shigdar, L Lv, L Wang, W Duan
(2016), Vol. 1380, pp. 191-196, Nucleic acid aptamers : selection, characterization and application, New York, N.Y., B1
The Application of Aptamers for Immunohistochemistry
M Bauer, J Macdonald, J Henri, W Duan, S Shigdar
(2016), Vol. 26, pp. 120-126, Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, United States, C1
Truncation and Mutation of a Transferrin Receptor Aptamer Enhances Binding Affinity
J MacDonald, P Houghton, D Xiang, W Duan, S Shigdar
(2016), Vol. 26, pp. 348-354, Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, United States, C1
Cytokine networks and cancer stem cells
C Liongue, A Ward, W Duan, S Shigdar
(2015), pp. 67-87, Cancer stem cells : emerging concepts and future perspectives in translational oncology, Berlin, Germany, B1
D Xiang, S Shigdar, G Qiao, T Wang, A Kouzani, S Zhou, L Kong, Y Li, C Pu, W Duan
(2015), Vol. 5, pp. 23-42, Theranostics, Wyoming, N.S.W., C1
Aptamer-mediated cancer gene therapy.
D Xiang, S Shigdar, G Qiao, S Zhou, Y Li, M Wei, L Qiao, H Shamaileh, Y Zhu, C Zheng, C Pu, W Duan
(2015), Vol. 15, pp. 109-119, Current Gene Therapy, Bussum, Netherlands, C1
X She, L Chen, L Velleman, C Li, H Zhu, C He, T Wang, S Shigdar, W Duan, L Kong
(2015), Vol. 445, pp. 151-160, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, United States, C1
X She, L Chen, L Velleman, C Li, C He, J Denman, T Wang, S Shigdar, W Duan, L Kong
(2015), Vol. 3, pp. 6094-6104, Journal of materials chemistry B, Cambridge, Eng., C1
D Xiang, C Zheng, S Zhou, S Qiao, P Tran, C Pu, Y Li, L Kong, A Kouzani, J Lin, K Liu, L Li, S Shigdar, W Duan
(2015), Vol. 5, pp. 1083-1097, Theranostics, Sydney, N.S.W., C1
L Chen, X She, T Wang, L He, S Shigdar, W Duan, L Kong
(2015), Vol. 7, pp. 14080-14092, Nanoscale, Cambridge, Eng., C1
Cancer stem cell targeted therapy: progress amid controversies
T Wang, S Shigdar, M Gantier,, Y Hou,, L Wang,, Y Li,, H Shamaileh,, W Yin, S Zhou,, X Zhao,, W Duan
(2015), Vol. 6, pp. 44191-44206, Oncotarget, Albany, N.Y., C1
T Wang, M Gantier, D Xiang, A Bean, M Bruce, S Zhou, M Khasraw, A Ward, L Wang, M Wei, H AlShamaileh, L Chen, X She, J Lin, L Kong, S Shigdar, W Duan
(2015), Vol. 5, pp. 1456-1472, Theranostics, Wyoming, N.S.W., C1
Syed Raza, Muhammad Sajid, Usama Jamshaid, Talha Jamshaid, Rabia Aslam, Akhlaq Ahmed, Sarah Shigdar, Muhammad Jamshaid
(2015), Vol. 4, pp. 87-98, Journal of colloid science and biotechnology, Los Angeles, Calif., C1
J Lin, S Shigdar, D Fang, D Xiang, M Wei, A Danks, L Kong, L Li, L Qiao, W Duan
(2014), Vol. 9, pp. 1-13, Plos One, San Francisco, CA, C1
Cancer stem cells: a contentious hypothesis now moving forward
M O'Connor, D Xiang, S Shigdar, J Macdonald, Y Li, T Wang, C Pu, Z Wang, L Qiao, W Duan
(2014), Vol. 344, pp. 180-187, Cancer letters, Shannon, Ireland, C1
CD44 variant 6 is associated with prostate cancer metastasis and chemo-/radioresistance
J Ni, P Cozzi, J Hao, J Beretov, L Chang, W Duan, S Shigdar, W Delprado, P Graham, J Bucci, J Kearsley, Y Li
(2014), Vol. 74, pp. 602-617, Prostate, Hoboken, NJ, C1
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule aptamer functionalized PLGA-lecithin-curcumin-PEG nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery to human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells
L Li, D Xiang, S Shigdar, W Yang, Q Li, J Lin, K Liu, W Duan
(2014), Vol. 9, pp. 1083-1096, International journal of nanomedicine, Macclesfield, England, C1
RNA aptamers targeting cancer stem cell marker CD133
S Shigdar, L Qiao, S Zhou, D Xiang, T Wang, Y Li, L Lim, L Kong, L Li, W Duan
(2013), Vol. 330, pp. 84-95, Cancer letters, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1
S Shigdar, C Qian, L Lv, C Pu, Y Li, L Li, M Marappan, J Lin, L Wang, W Duan
(2013), Vol. 8, pp. 1-8, PLoS One, San Diego, United States, C1
J Ni, P Cozzi, J Hao, J Beretov, L Chang, W Duan, S Shigdar, W Delprado, P Graham, J Bucci, J Kearsley, Y Li
(2013), Vol. 45, pp. 2736-2748, International journal of biochemistry and cell biology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Inhibition of A/Human/Hubei/3/2005 (H3N2) influenza virus infection by silver nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo
D Xiang, Z Yang, W Duan, X Li, J Yin, S Shigdar, M O'Connor, M Marappan, X Zhao, Y Miao, B Xiang, C Zheng
(2013), Vol. 8, pp. 4103-4114, International Journal of Nanomedicine, Macclesfield, UK, C1
Inflammation and cancer stem cells
S Shigdar, Y Li, S Bhattacharya, M O'Connor, C Pu, J Lin, T Wang, D Xiang, L Kong, M Wei, Y Zhu, S Zhou, W Duan
(2013), Vol. 345, pp. 271-278, Cancer letters, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Aptamers as theranostic agents: modifications, serum stability and functionalisation
S Shigdar, J Macdonald, M O'Connor, T Wang, D Xiang, H Al.Shamaileh, L Qiao, M Wei, S Zhou, Y Zhu, L Kong, S Bhattacharya, C Li, W Duan
(2013), Vol. 13, pp. 13624-13637, Sensors, Basel, Switzerland, C1
S Shigdar, A Smith, W Duan
(2012), pp. 275-296, Nanotechnology in health care, Singapore, Singapore, B1-1
Cancer stem cell targeting : the next generation of cancer therapy and molecular imaging
S Shigdar, J Lin, Y Li, C Yang, M Wei, Y Zhu, H Liu, W Duan
(2012), Vol. 3, pp. 227-244, Therapeutic delivery, London, England, C1
J Lin, Y Yu, S Shigdar, D Fang, J Rong Du, M Wei, A Danks, K Liu, W Duan
(2012), Vol. 7, pp. 1-10, Plos One, San Francisco, Calif., C1-1
Role of the EpCAM (CD326) in prostate cancer metastasis and progression
J Ni, P Cozzi, W Duan, S Shigdar, P Graham, K John, Y Li
(2012), Vol. 31, pp. 779-791, Cancer metastasis reviews, New York, N. Y., C1
A Schultz, S Shigdar, P Jones, A Ward, T Toop
(2011), Vol. 312, pp. 19-25, Aquaculture, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1
J Lin, D Fang, J Du, S Shigdar, L Xiao, X Zhou, W Duan
(2011), Vol. 58, pp. 150-157, Annals of nutrition and metabolism, Basel, Switzerland, C1
Clinical applications of aptamers and nucleic acid therapeutics in haematological malignancies
S Shigdar, A Ward, A De, C Yang, M Wei, W Duan
(2011), Vol. 155, pp. 3-13, British journal of haematology, Oxford, U. K., C1
RNA aptamer against a cancer stem cell marker epithelial cell adhesion molecule
S Shigdar, J Lin, Y Yu, M Pastuovic, M Wei, W Duan
(2011), Vol. 102, pp. 991-998, Cancer Science, Tokyo, Japan, C1-1
Aptamer therapeutics: the 21st century's magic bullet of nanomedicine
S Shigdar, J Luczo, M Wei, R Bell, A Danks, K Liu, D Wei
(2010), Vol. 1, pp. 118-124, Open conference proceedings journal, Bussum, The Netherlands, C1-1
J Du, D Fang, J Lin, L Xiao, X Zhou, S Shigdar, W Duan
(2010), Vol. 21, pp. 1114-1119, Journal of nutritional biochemistry, New York, N.Y., C1-1
S Shigdar, A Harford, A Ward
(2009), Vol. 26, pp. 731-736, Fish and shellfish immunology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
A Ward, J Gits, F Majeed, A Aprikyan, R Lewis, L O`Sullivan, M Freedman, S Shigdar, I Touw, D Dale, Y Dror
(2008), Vol. 142, pp. 653-656, British journal of haematology, Oxford, England, C1
Blood cells of Murray cod maccullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell)
S Shigdar, D Cook, P Jones, A Harford, A Ward
(2007), Vol. 70, pp. 973-980, Journal of fish biology, Oxford, England, C1
P Dodson, J Haynes, J Starczynski, J Farmer, S Shigdar, G Fegan, R Johnson, C Fegan
(2003), Vol. 17, pp. 772-777, Eye, London, England, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
A novel approach to target beta-cells to enhance survival and function
A/Prof Kathryn Aston-Mourney, A/Prof Sarah Shigdar, Prof Sean Mcgee
DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust)
- 2020: $59,756
Other Public Sector Funding
Targeting site specific improvements of clinical trial operational processes.
A/Prof Sarah Shigdar, Mr Justin Liam Henri
PMCI - Host Site, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute
- 2020: $42,369
Developing a low cost test for Inmate Immunity in Vertebrates.
A/Prof Sarah Shigdar, Dr Meagan Craven
Innovation Connections
- 2023: $8,039
Industry and Other Funding
Improving Cancer Diagnostics By Using Chemical Flags - Cancer Research Scholarship
Prof Alister Ward, A/Prof Sarah Shigdar
Equity Trustees - Norman, Ann & Graeme Atkins Charitable Trust
- 2017: $14,000
- 2016: $14,000
- 2015: $14,000
Getting the brain to take its medicine
A/Prof Sarah Shigdar, Dr Normand Pouliot, Dr Mustafa Khasraw
CASS Grant - Research - The CASS Foundation Limited
- 2018: $59,000
Saving our antibiotics: an innovative way of restoring bacterial sensitivity to antimicrobials
Dr Ben Wade, A/Prof Tamsyn Crowley, A/Prof Sarah Shigdar, Dr Anthony Keyburn
CASS Grant - Research - The CASS Foundation Limited
- 2018: $41,000
Targeting site specific improvements of clinical trial operational processes.
A/Prof Sarah Shigdar, Mr Justin Liam Henri
Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre
- 2020: $1,573
Developing a low cost test for Inmate Immunity in Vertebrates.
A/Prof Sarah Shigdar, Dr Meagan Craven
STGENETICS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
- 2022: $24,855
Supervisions
Justin Liam Henri
Thesis entitled: Targeting ovarian cancer with DNA aptamer delivered chemotherapy
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine
Joanna Michelle Macdonald
Thesis entitled: A bifunctional aptamer for the targeted treatment of brain metastases
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine
Sivapriya Pavuluri
Thesis entitled: Genomics based biomarker discovery in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine
Jake Erich William Mazur
Thesis entitled: Natural therapeutics coupled with nanotechnology, advancing Glioblastoma Multiforme treatment efficacy.
MAppSc (Medicine) (High cost), School of Medicine
Shauna Seneviratne
Thesis entitled: The effects of Ficolin and the Fibrinogen-like domain on ex vivo hematopoietic stem cell expansion.
Doctor of Philosophy (Biol & Chem), Institute for Frontier Materials
Wang Yin
Thesis entitled: Novel strategies to overcome drug resistance in liver cancer
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine
Hadi Al Shamaileh
Thesis entitled: Aptamer-mediated siRNA delivery to target colon cancer stem cells
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine
Lijue Chen
Thesis entitled: Delivery of Fluorouracil and siRNA by Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles to Drug Resistant Colorectal Cancer
Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering), Institute for Frontier Materials
Dongxi Xiang
Thesis entitled: Developing RNA aptamer technology for targeting cancer stem cells
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine
Tao Wang
Thesis entitled: An aptamer-mediated siRNA delivery system targeting breast tumourigenic cells
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine
Manju Marappan
Thesis entitled: Efficacy of utilizing chemical antibodies in histopathological studies
MAppSc (Medicine) (High cost), School of Medicine