Research Projects
1. Biomanufacturing of Glioblastoma Organoids
From Park et al., 2022, Biotechnol Bioeng
The goal of this project is to biomanufacture brain tumor organoids, which are miniaturized tissue and organ-like constructs, using globlastoma stem cells (GSCs). This allows us to consistently recapitulate the intratumor and intertumor heterogeneity found in patient tissues. Broadly, such a platform would enable new drug development in the future with potentially improved clinical outcome for brain tumor patients.
2. Fluid Shear Stress Metastasis Model for the Study of Cancer Stem Cells and Circulating Tumor Cells
While cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., most cancer deaths are due to metastasis where the cancer spreads from the initial tumor location to other organs in the body by the vascular system. This project focuses on simulating the fluid shear stress experienced by cancer cells in the human vascular system during metastasis. We developed a cost-effective syringe pump system and are testing how cancer stem cell and circulating tumor cell (CTC) traits are impacted under physiological fluid shear stress. By looking at these traits of cancer cells, we hope to gain an understanding of the cancer cell during metastasis.
3. Development of Novel Ruthenium-based Anticancer Chemotherapy
From Qu et al., 2021, Inorg Chem
We are collaborating with inorganic chemist Dr. Elizabeth Papish to develop a new class of ruthenium-based photochemotherapy (PCT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for solid tumors. There is an urgent need for therapies with greater selectivity for tumors over normal tissue. Tumor-specific therapeutics could take advantage of prodrugs that are activated in the unique environment of the cancer cell or by focused light to minimize off-target effects. We are focusing on examining the role that charged ligands may play in determining the partitioning of excited state reactivity between the PCT and PDT mechanisms.