Syntesis and molecular effects of nanoantioxidants

Antioxidants are greatly used to prevent oxidative stress and related disorders. Our research focuses on understanding oxidative stress related cellular and molecular events and combating it through a variety of antioxidants. For this purpose nano antioxidants can be synthesized and they offer great promise to overcome solubility and stability problems.

Currently, our lab focuses on characterization of the biological effects of drug loaded nanoparticles in several cell lines. In one of our projects, we are trying to increase antioxidant defence capacity of cells by using a nano-antioxidant system. For this purpose, a nanosystem has been developed and to be tested in 3T3 fibroblast cell line. More recently, we are seeking to design and implement a nanoparticle-porphyrin based theranostic agent to be used in targeted photodynamic therapy. Our specific aims regarding theranostics are;

• To develop new tools for one step imaging and therapy for cancer
• To understand the role of antioxidant response in nanosystem based photodynamic therapy
• To develop and understand the mechanisms of novel theranostic tools for anti-cancer treatment