The HQP Research Presentation Series gives NMIN HQP the opportunity to collaboratively develop their poster presentation skills, deliver a presentation in a supportive environment, and to receive constructive feedback.

Gold Nanoparticles Encapsulation into Polymeric Micelles for Cancer Theranostics

The presentation will discuss the development and characterization of hydrophobically modified gold nanoparticles by using poly(e-caprolactone), followed by their encapsulation into amphiphilic block copolymers, and their potential as a new theranostic platform.

Talita de Francesco obtaining her MSc in chemistry at University of Sao Paulo, and is now a PhD candidate at University of Victoria. Her research goal is to develop a theranostic platform for cancer treatment by functionalizing and encapsulating gold nanoparticles into amphiphilic block copolymers.

Single-Particle Measurements of Size and Loading for Drug-delivery Lipid Nanoparticles

To understand the drug-loading mechanism of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and optimize the design of LNPs, we developed a new imaging technique: Convex Lens-induced Confinement (CLiC) microscopy, which can be used to track mobilized nanoparticles with single molecule resolution over long viewing times. I will talk about how we learned the spatial distribution of silencing RNA (siRNA) drug molecules within Onpattro LNPs and offer valuable insights into the LNP structure.

Yifei Gu obtained her M.Sc. in biophysics with Dr. Sabrina Leslie at McGill University and now worsk as a research assistant in the Leslie Lab within the Michael Smith Laboratories at UBC. Her research focuses on developing tools and assays to study the drug-loading and -releasing mechanism of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and help improve the design of an LNP drug delivery platform.

X-Ray Triggered Drug Release of Hybrid Protein-Gold Nanoparticle

This research focuses on the use of hybrid Zein-gold nanoparticles in X-Ray triggered drug release. A proof-of-principle release study and characterization of the hybrid system shows promising results for its potential in cancers which combine high doses of chemotherapy and radiation, such as head and neck cancer.

Courtney van Ballegooie is a fifth year PhD student in Interdisciplinary Oncology Program at the University of British Columbia. Her research mainly focuses on developing an X-ray triggered release system for cancer treatments using gold and protein nanoparticle hybrids.

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