Postdoctoral
Associate
November 2001 – April 2004 Georgia Institute of Technology,
Chemical Engineering Department. Ultrasound-mediated drug
delivery in biological cells The project won $
2,700 award and the applicant was a mentor for the Undergraduate
Scholars Research program at ·
Optimized acoustical cavitation effects on DU145 human
prostate cancer cells and cortical neurons in terms of cell viability
and uptake of fluorescent molecules (as a model drug). ·
Studied cavitation bubbles
dynamics (employing artificial encapsulated gas microbubbles including
medical contrast agent Optison), acoustical spectra acquisition and
analysis. ·
Made 2 oral presentations on
the International scientific conferences and a journal publication. The key parameters for
cavitation’s bioeffects - cavitation bubbles lifetime and size
distribution were determined using electrical zone sensing method and
acoustical spectrum collection and analysis. Molecular uptake and cell
viability was qualified with aid of confocal microscopy and quantified
by flow cytometry. Regulation of bubbles lifetime and size distribution
changes the level of cavitation, causing different bioeffects that can
find biotechnology applications using cavitation-based acoustical
signals as a noninvasive monitoring tool. Visiting Researcher
April
– October 2000
Human genomic and apoptotic DNA
characterization ·
Studied the reassociation
kinetics of human, mouse and rat genomic & apoptotic DNA fragments.
Extraction, purification and restriction of nucleic acids were performed
together with fluorimetric quantitation, UV- measurements and agarose
electrophoresis. ·
Trained in separation and
determination of proteins techniques (SDS-PAGE methods, Western blots). A robust and sensitive fluorimetric assay for
quantification analysis of mixture of ds- and ss-DNAs has been
developed. The method can be used for determining reassociation kinetics
for as little as 1 ng/mL of DNA and will find applications in
characterization of genomic and apoptotic DNA. Graduate Research
Assistant
October 1997
– July 2001
Semenov’s Drug delivery properties and
transport processes of a novel biodegradable polymer ·
Investigated connections between the mass transport and
structure of the polymeric matrix. |