Healthy lives
Laser-guided drug delivery
A new approach to drug delivery could target single cells – with a level of accuracy never seen before. Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles show great potential as a new delivery system, transporting drugs to individual stem cells with pinpoint accuracy.
Our new optical approach uses laser technology. The optical scattering force from a laser is used to generate a jet-stream of the magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), propelling the particles forward and air-brushing them onto the surface of a single cell.
We have built a prototype optical module, which allows a laser to enter from above and propel nanoparticles onto the surface of cells. We have also manufactured our own cell chambers for optically-controlled patterning.
"Magnetic nanoparticles show great promise as therapeutic delivery vehicles, delivering drugs to stem cells to influence their structure and function."
This new approach could make an important contribution to stem cell and regenerative medicine by maximising the delivery of MNPs, cell viability and positional dexterity. MNPs show great promise as therapeutic delivery vehicles, delivering drugs to stem cells to influence their structure and function in processes such as embryo formation and development.
The technique also mimics natural processes, making it much more likely to be effective at a single-cell level. We have shown so far that MNPs can be gathered to a focal point in a known region of cells; that laser intensity does not cause MNPs to heat significantly and does not, therefore, damage the cells; and that MNPs are taken up internally by cells.
Ultimately, we would like to use this technique to ‘programme’ stem cells in the way that is most beneficial to each individual patient.
Kerry Setchfield
Kerry is a Cell Culture Technician in the Optics and Photonics group, Faculty of Engineering