Cancer Nano-Therapeutics at Cell Interfaces (KHIMYAKY_U26SCIBIGC)

Why this matters: Understanding mechanism of action of cancer therapeutics is a considerable challenge, which is pertinent for the development of new targeted cancer therapies. We have developed nano-delivery platforms including gold-nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes and nano-porous silicas – all these have been used for novel cancer therapeutics. However, very limited knowledge is available about the interactions at the nano-platform and cellular compartment interfaces.

In this project you will assemble novel nano-therapeutics and investigate how such cancer nano-delivery systems will interact with biological membranes in breast cancer cells. The project: This project will focus on the understanding of mechanism of cellular uptake of nano-cancer therapeutics. The main hypothesis will explore how specific carbohydrate decorated nanoparticles show differential entry into breast cancer cells based on mapping of interactions between nanoplatforms and cancer cell membranes.

Synthetic and material science: assembly of nano-platforms with specific functionalities and model bio-membranes and characterisation using advanced analytical techniques.