Breakable mesoporous silica coated upconversion nanoparticles for the on-demand delivery of temozolomide

Controlling the location, timing and dosage of drug release is essential in increasing drug efficacy and protecting the body from side effects. Such on-demand, targeted drug delivery is especially important for diseases like cancer, because tumors vary widely patient to patient, and so, treatments should be personalized to suit the patient’s individual tumor characteristics and growth profile. As well, chemotherapy drugs are highly toxic, so we need targeted treatment to ensure they are delivered only to the tumor instead of releasing to other parts of the body.
My research investigates light as a stimulus to trigger chemotherapy release for an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme. In my system, a core nanoparticle converts safe, invisible, near-infrared light to a higher energy ultraviolet light. The nanoparticle is covered with a porous silica coating that disintegrates in response to the converted ultraviolet light. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Marta Cerruti

Student:

Partner:

Université de Strasbourg

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

McGill University

Program: