Microfluidic Blood-Brain Barrier Model for Focused Ultrasound-Enhanced Drug Delivery

07.07.2025 Doktorarbeit experimentell

Beschreibung

Background: Drug delivery to the brain remains a major challenge due to the restrictive nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) show promise for mRNA delivery, but brain-targeted application remains limited. Focused ultrasound (FUS), combined with microbubbles, offers a non-invasive approach to locally and transiently open the BBB, enhancing drug uptake.
This project aims to develop an integrated platform for evaluating FUS-mediated mRNA delivery across the BBB. Key goals include: (1) establishing a physiologically relevant BBB-on-chip model; (2) integrating an in-vitro FUS system to study BBB modulation and drug delivery mechanisms; and (3) assessing delivery efficiency, immune response, and targeting of mRNA-loaded LNPs. By combining expertise in ultrasound, microfluidics, and immunotherapy, this project addresses a critical bottleneck in neuro-oncology and neuroinflammation, laying the groundwork for future mRNA-based therapeutic strategies targeting the central nervous system.

🧠 Project Title
Establishment of a Microfluidic Chip System to Model the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) and Systematic Analysis of Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Components for BBB Translocation – Combined with Focused Ultrasound

🧪 Methods
Fluorescence microscopy, PCR, FACS, and Western blot – combined with focused ultrasound (FUS) for in vitro analysis of various vaccination strategies using LNPs of different compositions in a glioblastoma model.

📍 Location
University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM) & German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)

📅 Requirements
1–2 semesters off from coursework (full-time project)

🚀 Start
Immediately / flexible start date

Bei Interesse gerne einmal mit CV an Dr. Tom Kuhn, tom.kuhn@umm.de

Kontakt

tom.kuhn@umm.de

Betreuerin / Betreuer

Dr. Tom Kuhn

Doktormutter / Doktorvater

Prof. Platten / PD Bunse

Institut

MFM/UMM, Department of Neurology, and Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology, DKFZ

Für Studierende der Fächer ...

Humanmedizin

Art

Doktorarbeit

Abschluss / Akademischer Grad

Dr. med.

Start der Arbeit

sofort

Voraussichtliche Dauer in Monaten

12

Ungefährer Arbeitsaufwand

Vollzeit, 1-2 Freisemester

Version: ed8cb17