Expertise:
Professor Bishnoi’s group focuses on three specific research areas: 1) the design and modification of nanomaterials; 2) the development of nanoparticle based sensors; and 3) the environmental implications of nanotechnology. She synthesizes metal nanoparticles that can be used as cancer therapy agents and biosensors. In addition to creating the particles, her group also modifies the surfaces of these particles with molecules that can be tracked using a method called surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Through the design of appropriate surface chemistries, nanoparticles can be targeted directly to an organ or tumor requiring attention, be it for the delivery of encapsulated drugs or cancer therapy applications. In addition, she is working to make most of these surface modifications Raman-active in order to be able to detect and track them with SERS. These SERS active surface chemistries can also be used to develop biosensors to measure pH levels. Her group also envisions the creation of other "smart" functions on the surface of these particles, such as the ability to measure reactive oxygen species, which have been implicated in broad range of medical problems such as aging, stroke, toxicity, and diabetes.
As these types of nanoparticles are adopted for biomedical and technological applications, it is important to determine whether their unique physical and chemical properties pose a risk to the environment. Her group has recently investigated the effect of changing surface chemistry on the viability of mouse macrophage cells. From this work it was found that both nanoparticle concentration and surface chemistry can have a profound effect on the overall viability of such cells. One promising in vivo model for studying the ecological effects of nanoparticles released into the environment is a freshwater crustacean, called Daphnia magna, which plays a vital component in the food chain within streams and lakes. Experimentally, Daphnia are popular models because of their sensitivity to dissolved metals and other pollutants. To date, Daphnia have only been used in a few studies with commercially available nanoparticles. The Bishnoi group’s capacity to synthesize, modify and then characterize the particles being tested significantly improves their ability to separate toxicity of the materials tested from any matrix effects coming from the use of commercially obtained nanoparticle systems. This work will lay the groundwork for understanding the parameters that must be controlled before continuing toxicity studies with more advanced animal systems.
Specific Research Projects:
-- Nanoparticle design and synthesis
-- Surface modification of nanoparticles
-- Nanoscale sensor development
-- Nanoparticle toxicity studies
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