The role of the interaction of organosilica nanoparticles with biological systems via live cell imaging and the effect of PEGylation.

Faculty Development Competitive Research Grant Program (General) 2024-2026

The purpose of this project is to systematically characterize the interaction of thiolated and PEGylated organosilica nanoparticles with biological systems, especially their effects on the biophysical (cell cycle, cell size, spindle morphology, pH) and biomechanical (cortical stiffness, nucleus stiffness) properties of normal and cancer cells using live imaging. This will provide essential data on cell behavior under the treatments of organosilica nanoparticles, contributing significantly to the toxicity profiles and mechanisms of action of organosilica nanoparticles to living cells, which is currently lacking in the field. The generated data will be used for understanding the impacts of organosilica nanoparticles on normal and cancer cells towards their application as a drug delivery system in cancer therapy.