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Acoustic microrobots navigation in tumor vasculature model (ETH / IBM)
We want to expand the use of acoustic microrobots for drug delivery applications in tumor environments.
Keywords: Microfluidics, drug delivery, Microrobots, Ultrasound, Biomedical
You will work in our lab in IBM Research in Rüschlikon with proffessor Daniel Ahmed.
The vasculature of a tumor is heterogeneous in its spatial distribution, often dilated, follows a tortuous route, and contains pores as large as 0.2-2 µm. This project will use microfluidics to mimic this environment and to study the manipulation of acoustic guided microrobots within leaky vasculature for drug delivery purposes.
You will work in our lab in IBM Research in Rüschlikon with proffessor Daniel Ahmed.
The vasculature of a tumor is heterogeneous in its spatial distribution, often dilated, follows a tortuous route, and contains pores as large as 0.2-2 µm. This project will use microfluidics to mimic this environment and to study the manipulation of acoustic guided microrobots within leaky vasculature for drug delivery purposes.
The goal of this project is to analyze the performance of acoustic microswarms as drug delivery carriers for tumor treatment applications. We will exploit the nature of cancer tissue by specifically targeting irregular, leaky vascularization.
- First, you will fabricate microfluidic-based models of leaky vasculature with due consideration of the 3R (replace, reduce, refine) principles, to target a mouse model of glioblastoma.
- You will specifically design a microfluidic device that replicates the conditions characteristic of tumor vasculature. For this you will develop a single-layer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based tumor vasculature on a chip.
- Secondly, you will test the manipulation of our microswarms in these tumor-on-a-chip devices. You will use acoustic signal, introduced in the device by a piezo electric transducer, to study the manipulation of bubble-based microrobots throuhg the vasculature.
The main goal is to manipulate the microswarms within the leaky vessel, attract them to the vessel wall, and extravasate them through the porous wall into the tumoral tissue.
Final end goal is to have a drug delivery mechaism that can secrete drugs into specific tissue regions.
The goal of this project is to analyze the performance of acoustic microswarms as drug delivery carriers for tumor treatment applications. We will exploit the nature of cancer tissue by specifically targeting irregular, leaky vascularization.
- First, you will fabricate microfluidic-based models of leaky vasculature with due consideration of the 3R (replace, reduce, refine) principles, to target a mouse model of glioblastoma.
- You will specifically design a microfluidic device that replicates the conditions characteristic of tumor vasculature. For this you will develop a single-layer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based tumor vasculature on a chip.
- Secondly, you will test the manipulation of our microswarms in these tumor-on-a-chip devices. You will use acoustic signal, introduced in the device by a piezo electric transducer, to study the manipulation of bubble-based microrobots throuhg the vasculature.
The main goal is to manipulate the microswarms within the leaky vessel, attract them to the vessel wall, and extravasate them through the porous wall into the tumoral tissue.
Final end goal is to have a drug delivery mechaism that can secrete drugs into specific tissue regions.
Alexia Del Campo (afonseca@ethz.ch) Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab. Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT). RSA G 324, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland. Website: https://arsl.ethz.ch/
Alexia Del Campo (afonseca@ethz.ch) Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab. Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT). RSA G 324, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland. Website: https://arsl.ethz.ch/