Career Center

RESEARCH PROJECT TITLE: SYNTHESIS AND APPLICATION OF NEW DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS BASED ON IRON-OXIDE AND NOBEL METALS NANOPARTICLES

FACULTY NAME & TITLE: ALI TRABOLSI, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN CHEMISTRY, MAZIN MAGZOUB, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN BIOLOGY

RESEARCH PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The focus of the project is on the development of a novel therapeutic nanoplatform, Targeted Chemotherapeutic Nanoparticles (T-CNPs), for the diagnosis and treatment cancer. The T-CNPs will be composed of iron oxide NPs that are: i) functionalized with water-soluble organic nanocontainers, for the encapsulation of a combination of hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic drugs that can act synergistically; ii) conjugated to cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) – either directly, or through encapsulation of the NPs within polyethylene glycol-modified liposomes (to avoid immune recognition) that are surface-coated with CPPs – which will enhance specific targeting of tumors and internalization into cancer cells. The aim is to use the nanoplatform to simultaneously target a tumor, monitor it by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and treat the disease by controlling the gradual release of the delivered anti-cancer drugs using a non-invasive external stimulus, which will concurrently induce hyperthermia. We will highlight new ways for the active release of the drugs, particularly by an external magnetic field, and promote the understanding of complex in vivo phenomenon when the molecules are optimally delivered.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION: