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Development of electrospun membranes for nanoparticle transport studies at biological barriers
With the growing use of nanotechnology, our body is likely to be exposed to nanoparticles (NPs). Therefore, studies dealing with the translocation and effects of NPs at various biological tissue barriers are of key importance for the safe design of NPs for medical and industrial applications
Keywords: Electrospinning, nanofibrous membranes, tissue barriers, in vitro translocation model
The most common approach to study NP translocation in vitro are two chamber transfer systems, where the key cell types of the tissue barrier can be grown to confluency on opposite sides of a microporous membrane. However, the currently available membranes are only suitable for transfer studies of small molecules and drugs, but constitute a major barrier for the free transfer of larger molecules and NPs due to their high thickness, low porosity and artificial surface topography.
The aim of this master thesis project is to develop permeable polymeric nanofibrous membranes by electrospinning. The new membranes should deliver more predictive results on NP-biobarrier interaction and transfer studies than the commercially available track-etched membranes.
The most common approach to study NP translocation in vitro are two chamber transfer systems, where the key cell types of the tissue barrier can be grown to confluency on opposite sides of a microporous membrane. However, the currently available membranes are only suitable for transfer studies of small molecules and drugs, but constitute a major barrier for the free transfer of larger molecules and NPs due to their high thickness, low porosity and artificial surface topography. The aim of this master thesis project is to develop permeable polymeric nanofibrous membranes by electrospinning. The new membranes should deliver more predictive results on NP-biobarrier interaction and transfer studies than the commercially available track-etched membranes.
- Selection of suitable polymers and electrospinning of nanofibrous membranes
- Membrane characterization (e.g. membrane thickness, fiber diameter, porosity and pore size)
- Investigation of membrane permeability
- Development of tight cell layers/tissue barriers on electrospun membranes and investigation of translocation of different compounds and nanoparticles
- Compare translocation rates with other in vitro models and ex vivo data
- Selection of suitable polymers and electrospinning of nanofibrous membranes - Membrane characterization (e.g. membrane thickness, fiber diameter, porosity and pore size) - Investigation of membrane permeability - Development of tight cell layers/tissue barriers on electrospun membranes and investigation of translocation of different compounds and nanoparticles - Compare translocation rates with other in vitro models and ex vivo data
Interested and suitable candidates with a background in biomedical engineering, materials science, health science and technology, biology or related fields may send a CV and short motivational state-ment including research interests as PDF or letter to:
Lea Furer, Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5 CH - 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
Tel +41 58 765 74 91
lea.furer@empa.ch
Interested and suitable candidates with a background in biomedical engineering, materials science, health science and technology, biology or related fields may send a CV and short motivational state-ment including research interests as PDF or letter to: Lea Furer, Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5 CH - 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland Tel +41 58 765 74 91 lea.furer@empa.ch