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| Fabrication of fluorescent nanoparticles and lactic acid sensors for imaging colorectal cancer. | ||||||||||||
Non-invasive laparoscopic techniques (“keyhole surgery”) for colorectal (bowel) and other solid cancers has real benefits for patients including less operation trauma, much smaller wound and faster recovery. The one deficit compared with conventional surgery is impossibility of directly manually handling the bowel and so imaging tools are needed to define the boundaries between healthy and cancer tissue so as to ensure its full removal. One approach would be to utilise fluorescent nanoparticles with antibodies that target the particles to the cancer; careful tuning of the nanoparticle size might allow systemic (intravenous) application o the nanoparticles which would leak out of the cancer blod vessels. With new keyhole surgery equipment being developed such an imaging tool would help drive adoption of the new surgical techniques. Consequently, the research objectives for the project are: • Fabrication of a range of nanoparticles, bearing fluorescent tags and bowel cancer targeting antibodies. • Testing the nanoparticles on cell lines and cancer tissue samples. If these objectives are achieved then it will really assist keyhole surgery treatment of cancers. The initial target is colorectal cancer, as it represents an important group of cancers that are treatable with a good outcome. However, the technologies developed should be applicable to keyhole surgery on other solid cancers, mainly just by changing the targeting antibody(s) on the nanoparticles depending on cancer type . For imaging nanoparticles, two types of particle will be made. Polymer nanoparticles will be made by photopolymerisation of monomers so as to provide chemically reactive groups (amines and thiols) on the particle surface for attachment of fluorescent tags and antibodies. Biosilica nanoparticles will be produced by silica precipitation using positive polymers and phosphate groups; various silicates are available to provide reactive groups, as with the polymer particles above, again the fluorescent groups and antibodies will be attached. A range of particle sizes, fluorescent tags and targeting antibodies will be tried to give the clearest imaging, initially on cultured cancer cells and later on real cancer tissue samples. The project represents an ongoing collaboration between the supervisor, a bionanotechnologist, and Mr David Jayne, colorectal cancer consultant at Leeds General Infirmary/ University of Leeds medical School, who will asist with the cell biological aspects of the project. The work is highly multidisciplinary but it would be an advantage for the applicant to have a keen grasp of organic chemistry within aqueous media. Funding Notes Intersted UK student should apply by submitting a CV (including course marks) and a cover letter explaining their interests, suitability and reasons for wanting the studentship. |
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