Postgraduate research opportunities

Project Details

The possibility of using non-viral delivery systems for the treatment of cancer is currently limited by their failure to specifically reach tumours after intravenous administration, without secondary effects on normal tissues. We have recently demonstrated that the intravenous administration of therapeutic DNA complexed to polypropylenimine dendrimer bearing transferrin, whose receptors are overexpressed on most cancers, led to a rapid and sustained tumour regression over one month, with complete disappearance of 90% of the tested tumours and regression of the remaining ones for the cancer model tested. These results are highly important, as there is currently no gene medicine commercially available for the intravenous treatment of cancer.

Building on the promising results already obtained, the proposed project aims to develop novel tumour-targeted nanomedicines and to evaluate their targeting and therapeutic efficacy on cancers. Specifically, the key objectives are:

- the preparation and characterization of novel tumour-targeting delivery systems

- the evaluation of the tumour delivery and therapeutic efficacy of these systems in vitro and in vivo.

Specifically, we currently have a very diversified portfolio of research projects, depending on the specific interests of the PhD candidate, including

- Development of non-viral CRISPR-Cas9 technologies

- Tumour microenvironment-sensitive drug and gene delivery systems

- Tumour-targeted drug and gene nanomedicines

- Biomaterial-based immunotherapies

- Development of novel hydrogels for biomedical applications

- Brain-targeted drug and gene delivery systems

Techniques used:

The student will have the opportunity to learn a wide range of multidisciplinary techniques:  synthesis and characterization of the nanomedicines, cell culture, in vitro analysis techniques (i.e. flow cytometry, cytotoxicity assay, confocal microscopy) and in vivo analysis.

Funding Details

This project is open to self-funded students or students who already hold funding support. Running costs of £12 000 per annuum will be associated with this project, in addition to University tuition fees

Supervisor

Primary Supervisor: Dr Christine Dufès

Email: C.Dufes@strath.ac.uk

Webpage: http://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/dufèschristinedr/; www.dufeslab.com

Contact us

Primary Supervisor: Dr Christine Dufès

Email: C.Dufes@strath.ac.uk

Webpage: http://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/dufèschristinedr/; www.dufeslab.com

How to apply

Applicants can apply using the University PEGASUS Application System https://www.strath.ac.uk/science/strathclydeinstituteofpharmacybiomedicalsciences/studywithus-postgraduate/phd/