Expertise in biomedical nanotechnologies

Our Biomedical Nanotechnologies team at the Quantum and Nanotechnologies Research Centre designs, synthesizes and tests nanomaterials for the ability to manipulate biological systems. Our multidisciplinary team of synthetic organic chemists, biomedical engineers, microscopists, cell biologists, immunologists and biochemists designs functionalized multivalent materials that can target, deliver and modify target cells or tissues. In addition, at the Centre, we build multiparametric sensing devices that can isolate or enrich nanoparticles for improved characterization. Our recent application in 3D bioprinting is expanding, and we actively seek collaboration in this area.

Main areas of expertise

Design and synthesis of nanostructured materials for biological and biomedical applications
- Synthetic organic chemistry of organogel materials from low molecular weight gelators
- Hydrothermal and sol-gel methods of inorganic nanoparticles and nanowires
- Microfluidics of drug and bioactive compounds encapsulated lipidpolymer nanoparticles
Characterization of engineered nanomaterials and their physiological interaction or response at subcellular scale
- Analysis of size distribution, morphology and structures of drug delivery system in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) or cryo-TEM, scanning electron microscopy (SEMs) and dynamic light scattering (DLS)
- Quantitative analysis of payload encapsulation and loading efficiency in drug delivery systems, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) or bioactive compounds, using RiboGreen and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
- Identification and localization of nanomaterials in biological systems using correlative electron and fluorescent microscopy
- Metabolic analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of mast cells upon activation
Molecular manipulation of mammalian biology
- Receptor-mediated cellular activation during inflammation
- Recombinant protein production using genetic constructs for expression in eukaryotic or prokaryotic systems
- Nanocytotoxicity by measuring metabolic activity, viability, reactive oxygen species generation and other functional assays
- 3D bioprinting of immunocompetent tissues
- Examination of protein expression by western blot, flow cytometry and histology
- Enrichment and characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs)

Our experts

Darren Makeiff
Team Lead
Email: Darren.Makeiff@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Synthetic organic chemistry
Supramolecular chemistry
Soft nanomaterials characterization (supramolecular gels)
Drug delivery systems

Hui (Julie) Qian

Cryo-transmission electron microscopy
Immuno-electron microscopy
Electron tomography
Analytical transmission electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy