Title: Self-assemble nanomaterials for biomedical applications
Venue: 503, T2 building, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi
Time: 10h, Friday, 5th January 2018
Speaker: Nhiem Tran
Affiliation: School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
Biography: Dr Nhiem Tran is a Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow at the School of Science, RMIT University, Australia. He received a BSc in Physics from Hanoi University of Science in 2005 and a PhD in Physics from Brown University (USA) in 2011. He then worked at Department of Orthopaedics, Rhode Island Hospital (USA) before moving to Melbourne, Australia to join CSIRO and Australian Synchrotron in 2013. The goal of his research is to use advanced technologies to create novel materials that can solve healthcare problems. The materials of interest include self-assembled lipids for drug delivery and in vivo imaging, and coatings for anti-bacterial and tissue regenerating medical implants.
Abstract: Recent advances in nanomaterial research have revolutionised how we diagnose and treat many serious diseases including cancer and bacterial infection. Among these novel nanomaterials, self-assembled lipid nanoparticles have shown potential as drug carriers due to their unique internal mesoporous nanostructures. In water, lipid molecules organise themselves into various structures including a lamellar, inverse bicontinuous cubic, and hexagonal phases. Their nanostructures allow for the controlled release of various drugs, proteins, peptides of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature. Additionally, multiple imaging modalities can be encapsulated within the nanoparticles for in vivo contrast enhancement and nanoparticle tracking. Furthermore, bioconjugation of antibodies to lipid nanoparticles allow them to actively recognised molecules on cancer cells or bacteria for targeted delivery of drugs. Since the internal nanostructures directly influence the properties of nanoparticles as drug carriers, it is important to understand the phase behaviour of these nanoparticles in order to further tailor their nanostructures to suit specific biomedical applications. This seminar aims to provide general knowledge regarding the nanostructures created by lipid self-assembly and their potential applications. A special case, in which the nanoparticles are engineered to treat aggressive ovarian cancer, will be discussed.