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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

student mentoring, laser-activated drug delivery, cancer cells, drug release

College

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology

Department

Chemical Engineering

Abstract

Summary of Scope of Proposal This proposal was submitted in October of 2011 to organize and fund a mentoring group in the Pitt lab in Chemical Engineering. Marjan Javadi, then a PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering, and 5 uldergraduate students participated in this research group. The purpose was 2-­‐fold, both scientific and pedagogical. On the scientific side, Marjan was working on her PhD research to develop a novel drug delivery system called an eLiposome that encapsulated a drug along with a nanoemulsion that turns from liquid to gas upon exposure to ultrasound. The ultrasound can be non-­‐invasively (no surgery or insertion) focused through tissue to the site of a tumor or other diseased tissue to activate the delivery of a drug at that site. While Marjan had developed the fundamental chemistry of the new carrier, we wanted to explore applications, including delivery of paclitaxel (to treat breast cancer) and doxorubicin (to treat ovarian cancer), and to develop a new mode of triggering the drug release that uses near-­‐infrared heating of gold nanorods instead of using ultrasound. Marjan was to lead the team in the development of these applications of her invention. On the pedagogical side, I was to mentor Marjan as to how to be a Professor soon in her career, and give her experience in mentoring undergrads and teaching them science and writing so as to practice being a professor. I feel that we succeeded on both aspects.

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