Tracking individual nanoparticles inside cells for nanomedicine

Objective

Nanomedicine is a growing field that has sought to revolutionize disease diagnosis and treatment, but limitations in nanoparticle characterization under biologically relevant conditions have greatly hampered their translation to clinic and patients. Increased understanding of the fate of the nanoparticle is crucial, as current analytical methods cannot provide precise information about how individual nanoparticles release their drugs once inside the cell. Through this fellowship, the combined expertise of the researcher and the supervisor will allow for the synthesis and characterization of various clinically significant polymer nanomaterials. Using a controlled polymerization method, we can ensure uniform assembly, morphology and dispersity of our nanoparticles which is of utmost importance for reducing biological experimental variance. Finally, the main goal of this project is to develop new methods to allow for direct particle tracking as it encounters, endocytoses, and degrades within the cell. This will be done by integrating fluorescent dyes compatible with super-resolution microscopy within the polymer backbone. The knowledge gained surrounding particle disassembly, and the details of cargo release will allow for improved rational design of nanoparticles for future studies, making their chances of reaching and succeeding in clinical trials much higher.