Nanotechnology in Medicine

About

Nanomedicine is an emerging field that can revolutionise the treatment and detection of disease.

Through hands-on laboratory sessions, site visits to experience cutting-edge technology, workshops enabling you to pitch research ideas, and lectures by world-leading researchers and clinicians, this module offers both an insight into these emerging technologies and a fundamental understanding of why size matters and how nanoscale technologies interact with biological environments.

You will visit the nanoscale quantum universe and see how nanoscale objects can be tuned for disease targeting. You will gain perspectives in the environmental and global impact of new medicines and consider equity and sustainability in their introduction.

You will take part in a structured problem-based learning (PBL) project. Working in groups, you will investigate real-world nanomedicine challenges, propose solutions and assess their potential impact.

You will see how this small-scale technology offers huge leaps in diagnostics and therapeutics, enabling us to break the boundary from macroscale anatomy to nanoscale biologics.

Week one
An Introduction to Nanomedicine – Why Size Matters
Physics of the Nanoscale
Nanomaterial–Biological Interactions
Nanotoxicity

Week two
Nanoparticle Drug Delivery and Release Systems
Nanoparticles for Tumour Therapy
Nanoparticles in Radiotherapy, Clinical Impact
Nanoparticles for Imaging
Spotlight on Environmental Impact
Nanoparticle Manufacture Practical Workshops

Week three
Impact and Equity of Nanomedicines
Pitching a Nanomedicine Idea
Translating Your Nanomedicine

This module incurs a bench fee of £150 in addition to the standard tuition fees. This fee covers the additional costs associated with the laboratory sessions and will be stipulated in your formal offer letter. If you have questions regarding this fee, please contact the UCL Summer School office.

Course leader

Dr Kate Ricketts

Course aim

This module aims to:

- Introduce you to the use of emerging nanotechnologies in medicine.
- Define bio-nanotechnologies, explain why material properties change at the nanoscale, and show how medicine and biological environments operate within the nano-realm.
- Explore the potential of nanomedicine and examine how nanoscale engineerability can address current limitations of imaging and therapy delivery through intelligent targeted solutions.
- Develop your skills in developing and pitching research ideas and reflecting on the real-world impact of research.
- Encourage you to take a critical approach to the field by distinguishing hype from reality.

Fee info