Tailoring the atomic structure of advanced sol-gel materials for regenerative medicine through simulation
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
Julian Jones (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Chen S
(2020)
Biodegradable zinc-containing mesoporous silica nanoparticles for cancer therapy
in Materials Today Advances
Greasley SL
(2016)
Controlling particle size in the Stöber process and incorporation of calcium.
in Journal of colloid and interface science
Naruphontjirakul P
(2019)
Human mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into an osteogenic lineage in presence of strontium containing bioactive glass nanoparticles.
in Acta biomaterialia
Naruphontjirakul P
(2018)
In vitro osteogenesis by intracellular uptake of strontium containing bioactive glass nanoparticles.
in Acta biomaterialia
Naruphontjirakul P
(2022)
Interaction of monodispersed strontium containing bioactive glass nanoparticles with macrophages.
in Biomaterials advances
Naruphontjirakul, P.
(2016)
Monodispersed strontium containing bioactive glass nanoparticles and MC3T3-E1 cellular response
in Biomedical Glasses
Pinna A
(2021)
Nanoceria provides antioxidant and osteogenic properties to mesoporous silica nanoparticles for osteoporosis treatment
in Acta Biomaterialia
Ting H
(2017)
Phosphate content affects structure and bioactivity of sol-gel silicate bioactive glasses
in International Journal of Applied Glass Science
Description | While synthesising silica nanoparticles to valise theory and simulation studies of sol-gel silica, we found were able to synthesise silica nanoparticles that can deliver ionic zinc. Monodispersed zinc-containing mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs-Zn) were produced as a tuneable biodegradable platform for delivery of therapeutic zinc ions into cells. We demonstrate that the nanoparticles were internalised by cells and a therapeutic dose window was identified in which the MSNPs-Zn were toxic to breast cancer cells, but not to healthy epithelial (MCF-10a) cells or to murine macrophages. A significant reduction in the viability of triple negative MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 (ER+) breast cancer cells was seen following 24 h exposure to MSNPs-Zn. The more aggressive MDA-MB-231 cells, with higher metastatic potential, were more sensitive to MSNPs-Zn than the MCF-7 cells. MSNPs-Zn underwent biodegradation inside the cells, becoming hollow structures, as imaged by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The mesoporous silica nanoparticles provide a biodegradable vehicle for therapeutic ion release inside cells. |
Exploitation Route | Simulation of wet processes such as the sol-gel process are extremely challenging due to the limit of computing power. the methods developed here will enable others to carry out simulations on wet processes, especially sol-gel systems. The results generated for the sol-gel process will enable others to design new sol-gel compositions accurately. The nanoparticles developed show that nanoparticles can deliver zin to cancer cells, killing them without killing other cells. this could be used to develop an alternative or complementary therapy to chemotherapy. |
Sectors | Education Healthcare |
Description | Incorporation of other cations seem to be beneficial to cancer therapy. Tests with breast cancer cell lines and healthy endothelial cell lines showed a doseage window wherein the nanoparticles killed cancer cells but not their healthy equivalents. We have also incorporated nanoceria which adds synergistic antioxidant properties. We also developed nanoparticles with morphologies that can cross the blood brain barrier. This is the subject of a new research programme with the Francis Crick Institute, where they have a model of the blood brain barrier to test efficacy of the particles. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Healthcare |
Description | Marie Curie Individual Fellowship |
Amount | € 200,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 05/2016 |
End | 05/2018 |
Description | Bioactive nanoparticles |
Organisation | Federal University of Minas Gerais |
Country | Brazil |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Hosting of Breno Rocha Barrioni. Methods for nanoparticle synthesis and role of nanoceria nanoparticles. |
Collaborator Contribution | Salary costs for Breno Rocha Barrioni |
Impact | New nanoparticles for therapeutic applications |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Nanoparticles and the blood brain barrier |
Organisation | Francis Crick Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have synthesised nanoparticles with new morphologies that can potentially safely cross the blood brain barrier and deliver cargo to treat conditions such as tuberculosis meningitis and dementia |
Collaborator Contribution | Professor Robert Wilkinson has devised an in vitro blood brain barrier model. The team are testing the cellular response to our nanoparticles |
Impact | A grant application to UKRI |
Start Year | 2020 |