Date/Time
Date(s) - 03/13/2017
3:00 pm
Abstract
Nanotechnology involves the engineering of structures, materials, and particle in the size range of 1 to 100 nm. These nanostructures have unique biological, optical, electrical and magnetic properties that are in direct relationship to their size, shape, and surface chemistry. As a result of these properties, nanotechnology is currently exploited in medicine for diagnosing and treating diseases. In this presentation, the properties of nanomaterials and challenges associated with using them for cancer targeting will be discussed. Specifically, the discussion will focus on how biological fluids and serum proteins influence the morphology, surface chemistry, and targeting ability of the nanoparticles in cells outside and inside the body. We will further describe chemical strategies using DNA-based molecular assembly to address the nanoparticle “delivery” challenge.
BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Chan is currently a Distinguished Professor in the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto and is affiliated with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Terrence Donnelly Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. His research interest is in the development of nano- and microtechnology for cancer applications and infectious disease diagnosis. He is currently an Associate Editor of ACS Nano. He has received David Kabiller Young Investigator Award in Nanomedicine, NSERC E. W. R. Memorial Steacie Fellowship, the BF Goodrich Young Inventors Award, Lord Rank Prize Fund award in Optoelectronics (England), and Dennis Gabor Award (Hungary). Dr. Chan received his B.S. degree from the University of Illinois in 1996 and Ph.D. degree from Indiana University in 2001. He did his post-doctoral training at the University of California (San Diego).