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Magnetic Blood Purification
In this thesis project you will develop magnetic particle-based carriers for the rapid capturing and identification of pathogenic bacteria from blood. Rapid identification of the disease-causing pathogen in bacteremia is imperative for patient survival.
Keywords: Nanoparticle synthesis, Nanoparticle functionalization and characterization, medical device engineering, cell and bacteria culture, advanced imaging
Sepsis (blood poisoning) is a severe, potentially life-threatening medical condition. Despite major technological advances in the recent years, mortality remains disturbingly high. Magnetic blood purification has recently been suggested as a treatment modality in sepsis. In magnetic separation-based blood purification, magnetic (nano-)particles functionalized with capturing moieties bind to pathogens and are subsequently removed from the blood by applying an external magnetic gradient field.
Sepsis (blood poisoning) is a severe, potentially life-threatening medical condition. Despite major technological advances in the recent years, mortality remains disturbingly high. Magnetic blood purification has recently been suggested as a treatment modality in sepsis. In magnetic separation-based blood purification, magnetic (nano-)particles functionalized with capturing moieties bind to pathogens and are subsequently removed from the blood by applying an external magnetic gradient field.
In this project, we will develop a theranostic approach based on magnetic blood puri-fication that will help to reduce the overuse of antibiotics by allowing rapid bacteria identifi-cation (on the beads), and at the same time provides an early clinical management treat-ment modality to bridge the time to administration of appropriate antibiotics. The project will give you the opportunity to acquire a broad skill set ranging from nanoparticle synthesis, characterization, and functionalization, cell and bacteria culture as well as various advanced imaging techniques. You can expect significant support and guidance from established scien-tists during the whole of your project. Work place will be the Empa St. Gallen with optional part-time stays at collaborating institutions in Zurich. Public transportation costs will be cov-ered.
In this project, we will develop a theranostic approach based on magnetic blood puri-fication that will help to reduce the overuse of antibiotics by allowing rapid bacteria identifi-cation (on the beads), and at the same time provides an early clinical management treat-ment modality to bridge the time to administration of appropriate antibiotics. The project will give you the opportunity to acquire a broad skill set ranging from nanoparticle synthesis, characterization, and functionalization, cell and bacteria culture as well as various advanced imaging techniques. You can expect significant support and guidance from established scien-tists during the whole of your project. Work place will be the Empa St. Gallen with optional part-time stays at collaborating institutions in Zurich. Public transportation costs will be cov-ered.
Interested students with chemistry, physics, engineering or similar background may send a short CV and a brief statement of motivation (2-3 sentences) to Prof. Inge Herrmann, inge.herrmann@empa.ch.
Interested students with chemistry, physics, engineering or similar background may send a short CV and a brief statement of motivation (2-3 sentences) to Prof. Inge Herrmann, inge.herrmann@empa.ch.