Smart Personalized Medical Platform for Cancer Diseases

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This research proposal consists in the design of a new generation of an optical molecular imaging system embedded in an organ-on-chip system. The goal of the imaging system is to measure the neurotransmitter concentration in real time to understand the impact of cancer cells on the brain's neural network and the efficiency of commercialized anti-cancer drugs in the treatment of brain cancer cells. The sensor we are proposing is original in that it uses a functionalized and selective ultra-stable nanoparticle embedded in a high density microfluid micro-cavity array to image neurotransmitter concentration distribution when cancer cells grow in brain tissue from one side and from the other side ton investigate the efficiency of cancer drug. From a technological standpoint, the sensor is based on the hybrid integration of microfluidic/electronic/microelectronic, optic, MEMS technologies and nanoparticles in one single system. We are especially interested in detecting the offset of the absorption shift of the functionalized ultra-stable gold nanoparticles with aptamers specific to neurotransmitters. Our goal is to be able to create a molecular imaging sensor using standard cameras. As such, it is the equivalent of the electronic lens of a microscope being able to detect molecular activity. The only way to currently observe molecules with optic lenses is by adding fluorophore markers. This involves the modification of the original solution and the loss of resolution, which is limited to 200 nm in most microscopes. The purpose of the system we are proposing to develop is to exceed this resolution limit by capturing the molecules with aptamers tied to the nanoparticles. This will modify the diameter of the molecule and thus absorption shift. Therefore, by detecting this shift, the neurotransmitter concentration can be determined. Our goal is to be able to detect the concentrations of at least two neurotransmitters (dopamine and ascorbic acid) in the order of the nanomoles at this stage of the research. We will also replicate the process for the serotonin, ?-aminobutyric acid, acetylcholine and glutamate neurotransmitters. We will therefore implement the first image sensor from selective gold nanoparticles for neurotransmitters. Such technology could be more widely used, beyond neuroscience, for example in the detection of drugs and water toxins.