This project will focus on understanding the role of copperbased therapeutics in mammalian systems, a role which has been proposed by numerous conflicting studies to either reduce or increase oxidative stress in cancer cells. The vascular network in a solid tumour is significantly different to that found within normal tissue with the former usually being poorly defined having swollen capillaries and incomplete endothelial lining of the vessel wall and reduced oxygen concentrations as a result. A series of copper(II) complexes will be synthesized and fully characterized and their cytotoxicity assessed under varying oxygen conditions. This work will be based at the FOCAS institute at city campus and be in collaboration with colleagues at the Tallaght campus of TUDublin and with School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science at UCD. The results of these experiments will be compared to those previously measured on compounds which have shown excellent cytotoxicity against a number of cell lines when tested under normal atmospheric concentrations of oxygen.
min. 2.1 BSc in Chemical Sciences
Scholarship not available. Fees & Materials to be paid by the student. Materials costs are very significant
If you are interested in submitting an application for this project, please complete an Expression of Interest.
Applications submitted without an EOI form will not be considered.