16IBN01
Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, A*STAR
Nanomedicine
IBN-MP
Hyaluronic Acid-Tyramine Hydrogel as a Tool for Selection of Cancer Stem Cells (Pilot trial with RGS. Only RGS teams should apply.)
Susi Tan
68247112
susitan@ibn.a-star.edu.sg
Motoichi Kurisawa
68247139
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are defined as a subpolulation of cancer cells that have self-renewing and infinite proliferative potential. They are also known to be resistant to conventional cancer therapy. They are strongly associated with metastasis and cancer relapse. Enrichment of CSCs would enable the study of CSCs and the method to eradicate them completely. We would therefore like to enrich CSCs by the use of hyaluronic acid-tyramine (HA-Tyr) hydrogel based on interaction between HA and CD44.
CD44 is highly expressed in CSCs in breast, colon and pancreatic cancers. HA being a ligand to CD44 would enable the binding of these CSCs to HA-based hydrogel. HA-Tyr hydrogel would facilitate the selection and expansion of CSC based on HA-CD44 interaction.
The pupil participants would be able to learn how to conduct research based on scientifically sound hypothesis. They would be involved in the experimental planning, data collection and analysis. The students would also learn to communicate their research findings to peers and the research community.
The research project would involve synthesis of hydrogel, characterization of hydrogel, cell culture, flow cytometry analysis, as well as fluorescence and confocal imaging.
Yes
Not applicable
Environmental Science
What is hydrogel? What is cancer stem cell? How important is identification of cancer stem cell? Keywords: Hydrogel, hyaluronic acid, cancer stem cell, cancer therapy
Pilot trial of the IBN programme with RGS. Only teams from RGS should apply this year.
No, there is no need to for this project.