What happens to the nanoparticles when they are injected into the bloodstream, for example, to destroy solid tumours? With new results published in ACS Nano, researchers from MBG and iNANO are now ready to tackle such a challenging question using zebrafish embryos as a new study model in nanomedicine and nanotoxicology.
The properties of nanoparticles are widely acknowledged and they are an important tool in pharmaceutical applications, among others. However, there is a need for deeper understanding of the protein layers accumulating on their surface, as these protein layers affect the functional role of the nanoparticles. AU researchers have developed a method for more efficient studies of the protein composition, which recently has been published in Nature Communications.
Ever wondered if you could see through the body of a living organism and observe the dynamic interplay between cells and nanoparticles injected into the bloodstream? This is now possible as the use of transgenic zebrafish embryos now offers a unique opportunity for intravital microscopy at imaging resolutions unrivalled by existing mammalian models.
Yuya Hayashi has been awarded DKK 10 million (EUR 1,3 million) from the Novo Nordisk Foundation over the next five years to start up his own research group at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University. The aim of his research is to redefine our understanding of how life operates through cell-to-cell communication by studying extracellular vesicles, a poorly characterised family of messengers. He will use zebrafish as a model organism for visualisation of such biological processes and an RNA origami technology to manipulate the conversation between cells.
