The doctoral dissertation in the field of Applied Physics will be examined at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Kuopio Campus.
What is the topic of your doctoral research? Why is it important to study the topic?
My doctoral research mainly focuses on the development of porous silicon (PSi)-based nuclear imaging (NI) agent for biological imaging and therapy. Nuclear medicine imaging (NMI), mainly including positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging, has emerged as a potent and promising tool for cancer diagnosis. It utilizes gamma rays from radionuclides to construct images with quantitative capabilities and unlimited penetration depth. Combined with computed tomography (CT), high spatial resolution of three-dimensional images can be obtained.
However, conventional NMI contrast agents based on small molecules encounter limitations in off-target and short blood circulation time. In response, nanotechnology offers possibilities to construct nanomaterial-based NMI agents to address these issues in biomedicine. Among the various nanomaterials, porous silicon nanoparticles (PSi NPs) stand out as good candidates for constructing NMI agents due to their unique properties, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, easy surface modification, large pore volume, and high specific surface area. Combining the advantages of imaging technology, cancer cell membrane coating technology, and drug loading, this PSi-based agent is meaningful for targeting cancer imaging and therapy.
What are the key findings or observations of your doctoral research?
In the present thesis: (1) bisphosphonates (BP) molecules were first selected as versatile chelators, successfully grafted onto the surface of PSi NPs to chelate 99mTc, 68Ga and 89Zr without pre-modifying NPs' surface. This finding simplifies the traditional chelator-based radiolabeling process which commonly needs the pre-modifying NPs' surface. (2) A one-hour rapid PEGylation method was explored to extend the blood residence time of PSi NPs. (3) Cancer cell membrane (CCm) by integrating solvent-dried CCm coating with the fast PEGylation process was further employed to coat the PEGyalted PSi NPs for targeted PET/CT imaging in triple-negative breast cancer. (4) After the final drug loading, the NPs exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cancer cells, indicating the potential application for further exploration in vivo.
What are the key research methods and materials used in your doctoral research?
The doctoral research relies on the porous silicon nanoparticles. In the thesis, the bisphosphonates service as versatile chelators to conjunct various radiometals (99mTc, 68Ga and 89Zr) on the surface of nanoparticles. Then we developed a one-hour rapid PEGylation method and solvent-dried cancer cell membrane coating for the surface modification of nanoparticles to achieve the longer blood circulation time and in vivo/vitro targeting performance. After drug loading, we realized the targeting therapy in cancer cells.
The doctoral dissertation of Huang Wen, MSc, entitled A versatile approach to produce inorganic nanovectors as a theranostic platform against cancer will be examined at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Kuopio Campus. The opponent will be Dr Rafael T. M. de Rosales, King's College London, and the custos will be Adjunct Professor, Wujun Xu, University of Eastern Finland. Language of the public defence is English.
For more information, please contact:
Huang Wen, hwen@uef.fi, tel. +358 50 465 6847
