Télécharger le descriptif du sujet de thèse
Résumé du sujet :
The use of ultrasound in therapeutic applications is fast growing. In particular, we are interested in using ultrasound to first trigger the delivery of drugs encapsulated into perfluorocarbon emulsions, then to activate the released drugs. The advantage of this approach is to drastically diminish potential side effects, as in the absence of ultrasound the drug is inert.
Nanoemulsions will be produced in our laboratory by high-pressure microfluidizer that allows to make solutions of perflurocarbon droplets with a diameter of a few hundred of nanometers. Perfluorocarbons are commercially available, but fluorinated surfactants used to stabilize the droplets are synthesized by chemist collaborators from the university of Avignon (france). Drugs are encapsulated into the droplet thanks to the addition of oil. The drug release can be achieved either by vaporizing the droplet into a bubble (thus, the drug is ejected out of the bubble) or by producing cavitation in the solution in order to destabilize the droplet. Although these mechanisms are known, we still need to better control them. Morever the mechanism by which ultrasounds activate a sonosensitive drug is not clear.
Consequently, the aim of this Ph.D project if to study and understand the action of ultrasounds on perfluorocarbon emulsions as well as on sonosensitive drugs. This work will mainly be conducted using experimental in vitro setups. It will take place in relation with several ongoing projects including partners from Norway, Switzerland, and Hong-Kong.
Directeur de thèse :
- Nicolas TAULIER