Multifunctional liposomes for advanced
diagnostics and therapy
Liposomes, which consist of a phospholipid bilayer
membrane surrounding a spherical aqueous core, have for the last decade
been the preeminent vehicle for delivering drugs to targeted regions
within the body. In our laboratory we work on the next generation of
liposomes - "smart" assemblies of biological molecules and nanoparticles
that can perform multiple diagnostic and therapeutic functions. For
example, magnetoliposomes contain magnetic nanoparticles for MRI imaging
and hyperthermia, while lipoplexes contain nucleic acids for gene therapy.
In this project, novel liposomes will be synthesized containing functional
nanoparticles for targeted in vitro delivery to cancer cells. Students
working in our group will be exposed to collaborative research with BPS
Professor Matthew Stoner and trained in basic laboratory procedures as
well as advanced spectroscopic, calorimetric, and microscopy techniques.
