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Master/PhD Projects

The center is proud to offer a variety of Masters projects.

Design and evaluation of theranostic nanocarriers for breast cancer theraphy and imaging

Andreas Nyström, Docent
Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world. Currently the major treatments for cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or combinations thereof. This proposal is aimed at designing and evaluation nanoparticle systems that can be used both to deliver chemotherapeutics for breast cancer therapy and as contrast agents for MRI. Such systems are highly attractive to both combat disease and to non-invasively monitor disease progression during therapy. Our research group is currently engaged in developing such systems in collaboration with imaging researchers at KI/KS and with engineering researchers at the Royal Institute of Technology. The project will aim to evaluate the in vitro toxicity of theranostic (therapy + diagnosis) polymer systems, as well as investigating chemotherapeutic delivery and efficacy of these systems. In addition physiochemical characterization (size, charge, composition etc.) and phantom imaging are included in the project.

Endonuclease competition during bacterial antisense-RNA mediated gene regulation

Klas Udekwu, Assistant Professor

Is Hfq-mediated small antisense RNA (sRNA) interaction with target mRNA preferred to non Hfq-mediated processes? Perfectly complementary interactions (cis-acting) are believed to not require Hfq but the hexameric RNA chaperone is a key player in transactions involving imperfectly binding sRNA:target mRNA pairs (trans-acting). Which of these gene-regulatory modes that will be preferred by any given sRNA is unknown.

The (R)evolution of commensals

Klas Udekwu, Assistant Professor

The effects of deleting multiple regulatory antisense RNAs on growth and biofilm establishment in Escherichia coli are unclear and their (small antisense RNA) contribution(s) to environmental persistence as well as invasion of otherwise established clonal populations unknown. Using knockout strains of multiple sRNAs, we will compete such constructs against similarly-sized parental or wildtype populations to gain information on the interactions between bacterial strains as mediated by sRNAs.

Transport capabilities of the organic electronic ion pump

Agneta Richter-Dahlfors, Professor

In year 2000 researchers were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of conductive polymers. Conducting polymers can be electrically addressed and become electrochemically active, a property that has been explored and utilized in numerous applications, i.e. organic solar cells and light emitting diodes. We have developed an organic electronic ion pump (OEIP) from the conducting organic polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT:PSS). The OEIP can transfer ions without a liquid flow and has been used in cell signaling studies in vitro as well as in vivo. The OEIP has also been shown to be able to deliver molecules, such as neurotransmitters.

Deciphering the dynamic interactions between bacteria and host during infection

Agneta Richter-Dahlfors, Professor
A bacterial infection is accompanied by dynamic alterations in tissue homeostasis within the infected organ. What starts as a local bacterium-host cell interaction at the site of infection, changes over time to include distant signaling and the engagement of multiple cell types in an effort to eradicate the bacteria.