A Physiologically relevant model for Ultrasound activated Targeted Drug Delivery (TDD)
Project Description
The School of Engineering of the University of Glasgow is seeking a highly motivated graduate to undertake an exciting 3.5-year PhD project entitled ‘A Physiologically relevant model for Ultrasound activated Targeted Drug Delivery (TDD)’ within the Systems, Power and Energy Division.
The use of ultrasound to generate transient cellular porosity to enable non-invasive, targeted drug delivery (TDD) at a specific disease site has been widely demonstrated. Particular success has been achieved through the use of gas microbubbles, which are delivered intravenously to circulate in the blood stream and act to enhance the generation of ultrasound mediated bio-effects. However delivery rates have remained low due to incomplete understanding of the processes involved. TDD offers huge potential to treat a wide range of diseases but is particularly suited to the treatment of cancer. It can be used to non-invasively activate systemically delivered toxic drugs at a specific disease location whilst also enhancing successful uptake by these tissues, thus reducing the serious side effects commonly associated with conventional chemotherapy. The same technology can be used prior to treatment to locate and image disease, and provide both immediate and longer term information relating to treatment success, e.g. assessment of tumour size, angiogenesis / neovascularisation.
The focus of this project will be the development of a model system for the demonstration, characterisation and exploration of ultrasound activated TDD and monitoring. The model will mimic physiologically relevant conditions such as temperature, flow rate, pressure, vessel diameter, material properties and surface chemistry to produce a fully controlled environment capable of imitating in vivo conditions to provide a fully described and novel platform for TDD development. No equivalent system is currently available and once established the apparatus will provide an invaluable tool for immediate investigation and optimisation of TDD techniques. Directed by the interests of the candidate, opportunities to be involved in ultrasound device design, microbubble fabrication and functionalization (e.g. through addition of molecular targeting, manipulation of shell chemistry) and acoustic characterisation will all be possible towards the later stages of the project.
This is a challenging project involving mechanical design and fabrication, biochemistry, microfluidics and acoustic characterisation and as such will be supported through collaboration with experts in each of these areas. The project will be based in the Systems, Power and Energy Division under the supervision of Dr Helen Mulvana and co-supervised by Julien Reboud (Biomedical Engineering). Additional expertise in ultrasound phantom development and microbubble physics will be provided by Dr Vassilis Sboros (Heriot Watt University) and from the student’s inclusion within a network of UK academics engaged in ultrasound contrast agent research.
The ideal candidate will have a First or Upper Second class honours degree in mechanical engineering or a related discipline, a strong interest in cross-disciplinary work, excellent laboratory skills and a hands-on approach to problem solving. Experience of Matlab is also desirable.
This is a truly multidisciplinary project and the successful candidate will benefit from an extensive peer-group of researchers, as well as acquiring skills at the interface between mechanical engineering and life sciences, that are in high demand in both industry and academia.
Funding
The studentship is supported by the EPSRC DTA, and it will cover the tuition fees and provide a bursary of up to £ 13,590 per annum for 3.5 years. To be eligible for this funding, applicants must have ‘settled status’ in the United Kingdom and must have been ‘ordinarily resident’ for the past three years. EU nationals are generally eligible to receive a fees-only award.
It should be noted that other terms may also apply. For full details about eligibility please visit: www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTraining/StudentEligibility.htm
How to apply
Application for this scholarship is made by using the online system at the following link for admission as a postgraduate research student to the Graduate School of the College of Science and Engineering:
http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/opportunities/howtoapplyforaresearchdegree/applyonline/
It should be noted that this application is to gain admission to our PGR programme with the decision on this being based on your academic achievements, and an offer of admission may be sent out before a decision on this Scholarship is made. Candidates applying for this Scholarship will have their applications further vetted as to acceptability to this Scholarship and will most likely have an interview/discussion with the supervisor before any decision is made
Contacts
For an informal discussion or for further information on this project, potential applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Helen Mulvana.
Closing date 30th April 2013.
Illustration showing ultrasound and microbubble mediated cardiac drug delivery in a mouse.