ProjektportalTranslational tumor drug delivery
Terrmin
VT22
Beskrivning
Translational tumor drug delivery
Aim
To investigate how common cancer drugs interact with different hydrogels commonly used in pre-clinical cancer research with the goal to further the understanding of how these drugs diffuse in the tumor extracellular matrix, both in vitro and in vivo.
Background
Targeting of the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) is an increasingly common strategy in the development of novel drug treatments. In the case of solid tumors, such as primary liver cancer, the tumor ECM is an important barrier leading to poor distribution and penetration of small molecule drugs and nanoformulations. Collagens are a major abundant fibrous protein family and constitute the primary structural element of the ECM. It is the main component of connective tissue, and makes up from 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content. They provide tensile strength, regulate cell adhesion, support chemotaxis and migration, and direct tissue development. The synthesis of the different collagens is affected by various disease, inflammation and wound healing processes and therefore the ECM is considered a highly dynamic tissue. The balance between blood flow and lymphatic drainage present in healthy ECM is disrupted in tumor tissue, which forms the basis for the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect generally associated with nanoformulation tumor accumulation. However, drug delivery (penetration) into the core of solid tumors has proven more challenging due to an elevated interstitial fluid pressure and poor vascularization. Thus, molecular and nanoparticle diffusion remains the main driving force for transport in these tumor conditions.
Methods
15 hp: Literature studies with the following potential focus topics:
• Techniques used to study interactions between small molecules and polymers or proteins
• Quantification of cancer drugs using fluorescence or UV-absorbance techniques in tumor cell models
• Hydrogels used in tumor cell models and their interaction with different small molecules
30 hp: A literature study in the above-mentioned areas as well as experimental work using simple lab techniques in a clean room lab environment.
Student interests & requirements
15 hp: Cancer, tumor cell models, hydrogels, fluorescence or UV quantification, reading & writing in English
30 hp: Cancer, tumor cell models, hydrogels, fluorescence or UV quantification, some experience in pipetting, reading & writing in English. Experience in using microscopes is an advantage.
Contact / Supervisor
Oliver Degerstedt, oliver.degerstedt@farmbio.uu.se
PhD student, Translational Drug Discovery and Development, Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University
Huvudområde
Farmaceutisk vetenskap
Ämne
Biofarmaci
Typ
Laborativ studie
Företag
Uppsala University
Ort/Plats
Uppsala
Handledarens namn
Oliver Degerstedt
Handledarens e-post
oliver.degerstedt@farmbio.uu.se
Institution
Program
Kurs
Omfattning/hp
30hp
Hur många studenter kan antagas för detta projekt?
1