High resolution imaging of multimodal nanoparticles for treatment of brain cancers

Supervisors

Alexandra Porter (Materials)
Matthew Williams (Surgery & Cancer)
Mary Ryan (Materials)

This PhD aims to develop strategies to treat early and metastatic brain cancer while avoiding unwanted side effects on healthy tissue. The student will develop unique nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems to specifically target and treat brain cancer. We will combine cellular models using cancer and healthy cells to test the effectiveness of the drugs to kill tumour cells, yet spare healthy cells. To accomplish this objective, Imperial will synthesize nano-sized (one thousandth the width of a human hair) “smart” particles that have been surface-modified with chemicals that specifically identify, penetrate and kill cancer cells but do not markedly affect normal cells. Bioassays will complement the tools used by the supervisors, including advanced high resolution imaging to study transformation and translocation, cellular bioreactivity and integrity.

Student

Jonny Taylor