Register now After registration you will be able to apply for this opportunity online.
Assay development for cancer diagnostics
You will develop a diagnostic test for testicular cancer. The focus of the project will be on creating the biochemical protocols for the test. The project is in collaboration with a prelaunch startup and a hospital (USZ). Therefore, it is ideal for motivated students who want to have a direct impact
The current serum tumor marker for detection of testicular germ cell cancer can only be detected in <60% of the patients. Micro RNA (miRNA) is a novel promising blood-based tumor marker. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has shown excellent diagnostic accuracy. However, due to technical limitations of qPCR for short RNA sequences, miRNA have not yet been translated into clinical practice. Therefore, it is desirable to develop alternative methods to detect miRNA.
Gold nanoparticles have been shown to be a suitable label to detect miRNA. Our lab has developed a sensitive readout to detect gold nanoparticles for diagnostic tests. To do so, a sandwich assay is used. This requires the functionalization of the nanoparticles and a substrate with DNA sequences. Such assay development will be the key part of the project. In addition, the project also includes performing biosensing measurements. By the end of the thesis samples of real patients provided by the hospital should be tested.
The current serum tumor marker for detection of testicular germ cell cancer can only be detected in <60% of the patients. Micro RNA (miRNA) is a novel promising blood-based tumor marker. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has shown excellent diagnostic accuracy. However, due to technical limitations of qPCR for short RNA sequences, miRNA have not yet been translated into clinical practice. Therefore, it is desirable to develop alternative methods to detect miRNA.
Gold nanoparticles have been shown to be a suitable label to detect miRNA. Our lab has developed a sensitive readout to detect gold nanoparticles for diagnostic tests. To do so, a sandwich assay is used. This requires the functionalization of the nanoparticles and a substrate with DNA sequences. Such assay development will be the key part of the project. In addition, the project also includes performing biosensing measurements. By the end of the thesis samples of real patients provided by the hospital should be tested.
- Optimize a protocol to functionalize gold nanoparticles particles with the desired complimentary DNA
- Optimize a protocol to functionalize the surface with the desired complimentary DNA.
- Perform biosensing measurements in buffer and serum.
- Optimize to assay to reach the desired performance
- Performance measurements on real patient samples to estimate the clinical sensitivity.
- Optimize a protocol to functionalize gold nanoparticles particles with the desired complimentary DNA - Optimize a protocol to functionalize the surface with the desired complimentary DNA. - Perform biosensing measurements in buffer and serum. - Optimize to assay to reach the desired performance - Performance measurements on real patient samples to estimate the clinical sensitivity.
Please send me your CV and transcript of records
blyves@ethz.ch