Developing light and sound based technologies for lung cancer detection and treatment

This multidisciplinary project will focus on the development and integration of our existing ultrasound hardware with EBUS style transducers and pulse laser illumination, to create a prototype system for testing the potential future clinical use. Imaging parameters will be tested and optimised using tissue mimicking ultrasound phantoms and imaging algorithm optimisation (MATLAB).

For the therapeutic aspects of this project testing and assessment of the targeting efficiency of functionalised nanoparticles, and establishing optimal laser exposure parameters for thermal ablation in in vitro models of lung cancer.

Key Deliverable of the project will be:
- Successful integration and testing of EBUS transducer, photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging.
- Established optimal laser exposure parameters for both imaging and therapeutic applications.
- In vitro demonstration of thermal ablation of lung cancer cells using plasmonic gold nanoparticles.

The project will require a highly motivated student to work across the boundaries of engineering and medicine, where they will develop a broad range of skills including: in depth knowledge of ultrasound imaging and its applications, design and testing of ultrasound embedded systems, FPGA programming, sterile cell culture and testing, nanoparticle testing and the use of high powered laser systems and optics.