Novel Role for Targetable Drug Encapsulated Polymer Nanocarriers for Treatment of Glioblastoma

I synthesize polymeric nanoparticles that encapsulate the oncolytic and hydrophobic drug Paclitaxel, which can be delivered past the blood brain barrier via nanocarrier and shows promise in treating the brain cancer glioblastoma. Another team in the lab is currently using MTT and methylene blue assays to test the nanoparticles in cell culture and determine cell viability and IC50 values, and the results that are seen in-vitro are used to inform the nanoparticle synthesis the next week. We are currently in the process of attaching the CD133 aptamer to the nanoparticles for targeted drug deliver to glioblastoma cancer stem cells.