Nanodroplets for brain tumour imaging and therapy

博士项目的目的：该项目的主要目标是开发超稳定的纳米液滴，以使用以下成像方式成像血脑至肿瘤屏障超声超分辨率磁共振荧光成像新兴的相变超声响应材料由于其独特的超声响应在生物医学应用中引起了极大的关注，用于肿瘤成像和治疗目的。由于超声波以不同的频率和功率施加，纳米液滴已被证明通过声学液滴汽化(ADV)过程空化，导致机械力的发展，从而促进通过细胞膜的声孔化。这使得药物能够有效地输送到肿瘤所在的更深层次的组织中。近年来对纳米液滴的研究主要集中在空化机理及其在生物医学领域的应用。然而，纳米液滴成分的化学还没有被探索。在本项目中，我们将探索纳米液滴的新材料和制备方法。我们的目标是提高纳米液滴作为超声和光声-多模式成像剂的效率，以成像、影响和监测药物输送。

Aim of the PhD Project:The main aim of the project is to develop super stable nanodroplets to image the blood brain to tumour barrier using the following imaging modalities Ultrasound super resolutionMagnetic resonanceFluorescence imagingEmerging phase-changing sonoresponsive materials have attracted substantial attention in biomedical applications for both tumour imaging and therapeutic purposes due to their unique response to ultrasound. As ultrasound is applied at different frequencies and powers, nanodroplets have been shown to cavitate by the process of acoustic droplet vapourisation (ADV), causing the development of mechanical forces which promote sonoporation through cellular membranes. This allows drugs to be delivered efficiently into deeper tissues where tumours are located. Recent reviews on nanodroplets are mostly focused on the mechanism of cavitation and their applications in biomedical fields. However, the chemistry of the nanodroplet components has not been explored. In this Project we will explore novel materials and preparation methods of nanodroplets. We will aim to improve nanodroplets' efficiency as ultrasound and photoacoustic-multimodal imaging agents to image, effect and monitor drug delivery.