PhD Position in Pharmaceutical Sciences Ghent University, Department of Pharmaceutics

Job description The PhD project will be mainly carried out in the Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy (LGBPP). The PhD project is carried out in close collaboration with Lumilab (prof. Dirk Poelman, Ghent University) specialized in the development of phosphorescent materials. Both research groups are founding partners of the Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics at Ghent University. For more information, please visit www.nb-photonics.ugent.be. Only a few years back, so-called dendritic cells (DCs in short) were discovered by Ralph Steinman, for which he received the Nobel prize in 2011. Since then, there has been much interest in their application as anti-tumor vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. As such, the patient’s own immune system is triggered to find and attack tumor cells. In order to assess the therapeutic efficacy, it is of paramount importance to follow the cells through the body and know where they migrate after injection. Existing techniques are positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They are, however, very expensive and the first two also require potentially harmful radiation for the patient and thus require a lot of precautions. This project is aimed at an alternative way of inexpensive medical imaging with biocompatible nanomaterials. The concept is based on persistent luminescent nanoparticles that can be excited with ultraviolet or visible light and that emit light in the red or near infrared range for a long period of time afterwards. DCs will be loaded with such ‘glow-in-the-dark’ nanoparticles and will be optically excited before injection into the body. Following reinfusion of the cells in the body this will allow to see where labelled cells are located over time without the need for in situ excitation sources. Not only does this enable much less expensive biomedical imaging, also better optical contrast is expected as autofluorescence is avoided altogether. Specific research questions in this project include: 1. Functionalization of persistent luminescent nanoparticles: encapsulation in silica,PEGylation, lipid coating including maturation stimulating lipids. 2. Evaluation of these (functionalized) luminescent nanoparticles in terms of cell uptake (through various methods), cytotoxicity, DC maturation, long-term visibility. 3. In vivo evaluation of the most successful formulations. Profile of the candidate The main task of the successful applicant is to perform research with respect to the project described above. In addition, contributing to the service and teaching duties of the group will be required. At the end of this 4 year doctoral research position a Ph.D. thesis must be written to obtain the degree of Doctor in Pharmaceutical Sciences. How to apply Contact Prof. Dr. K. Braeckmans (+3292648098 – Kevin.Braeckmans@UGent.be), or Dr. Ine Lentacker (+3292648078 –Ine.Lentacker@UGent.be). Additional information about our research group can be found on our website: http://www.biofys.ugent.be. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Medicinoxy

Job description

The PhD project will be mainly carried out in the Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy (LGBPP). The PhD project is carried out in close collaboration with Lumilab (prof. Dirk Poelman, Ghent University) specialized in the development of phosphorescent materials. Both research groups are founding partners of the Centre for Nano- and Biophotonics at Ghent University. For more information, please visit www.nb-photonics.ugent.be.

Only a few years back, so-called dendritic cells (DCs in short) were discovered by Ralph Steinman, for which he received the Nobel prize in 2011. Since then, there has been much interest in their application as anti-tumor vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. As such, the patient’s own immune system is triggered to find and attack tumor cells. In order to assess the therapeutic efficacy, it is of paramount importance to follow the cells through the body and know where they migrate after injection. Existing techniques are positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
They are, however, very expensive and the first two also require potentially harmful radiation for the patient and thus require a lot of precautions. This project is aimed at an alternative way of inexpensive medical imaging with biocompatible nanomaterials. The concept is based on persistent luminescent nanoparticles that can be excited with ultraviolet or visible light and that emit light in the red or near infrared range for a long period of time afterwards. DCs will be loaded with such ‘glow-in-the-dark’ nanoparticles and will be optically excited before injection into the body. Following reinfusion of the cells in the body this will allow to see where labelled cells are located over time without the need for in situ excitation sources. Not only does this enable much less expensive biomedical imaging, also better optical contrast is expected as autofluorescence is avoided altogether. Specific research questions in this project include:

1. Functionalization of persistent luminescent nanoparticles: encapsulation in silica,PEGylation, lipid coating including maturation stimulating lipids.

2. Evaluation of these (functionalized) luminescent nanoparticles in terms of cell uptake (through various methods), cytotoxicity, DC maturation, long-term visibility.

3. In vivo evaluation of the most successful formulations.

Profile of the candidate

The main task of the successful applicant is to perform research with respect to the project described above. In addition, contributing to the service and teaching duties of the group will be required. At the end of this 4 year doctoral research position a Ph.D. thesis must be written to obtain the degree of Doctor in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

How to apply

Contact Prof. Dr. K. Braeckmans (+3292648098 – Kevin.Braeckmans@UGent.be), or Dr. Ine Lentacker (+3292648078 –Ine.Lentacker@UGent.be).

Additional information about our research group can be found on our website: http://www.biofys.ugent.be.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Medicinoxy