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Team:UCSF/Future Applications
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='''VISION: Example of a possible application'''= | ='''VISION: Example of a possible application'''= | ||
| - | In the previous sections we have shown you that we can steer cells to new targets, control their speed and attach a payload. Here we describe our vision of what we could do with these engineered cells. | + | In the previous sections we have shown you that we can steer cells to new targets, control their speed and attach a payload. Here we describe our vision of what we could do with these engineered cells in the future. |
| - | One target for our cells could be '''carcinoid tumors''' | + | One target for our cells could be '''carcinoid tumors:''' |
| - | + | * these tumors are located in the '''gut and lungs''' and are often '''malignant''' | |
| + | * they are small and therefor '''hard to find''' | ||
| + | * they '''secrete high levels of serotonin''' - a neuroactive peptide '''detected by Gi-coupled GPCR''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | Our approach could be used to '''engineer a cellular robot''' that: | ||
| + | |||
| + | * '''detects serotonin and can chemotax to carcinoid tumors''' | ||
| + | * '''delivers imaging reagents''' (to aid in surgical removal) | ||
| + | or | ||
| + | * '''delivers targeted chemotherapeutic drugs''' to kill tumor | ||
[[Image:VISION.jpg|500px|thumb|center|'''VISION:''' We could use our engineered cellular robots to home in on carcinoid tumors to deliver imaging or therapeutic reagents.]] | [[Image:VISION.jpg|500px|thumb|center|'''VISION:''' We could use our engineered cellular robots to home in on carcinoid tumors to deliver imaging or therapeutic reagents.]] | ||
Revision as of 00:43, 21 October 2009
VISION: Example of a possible application
In the previous sections we have shown you that we can steer cells to new targets, control their speed and attach a payload. Here we describe our vision of what we could do with these engineered cells in the future.
One target for our cells could be carcinoid tumors:
- these tumors are located in the gut and lungs and are often malignant
- they are small and therefor hard to find
- they secrete high levels of serotonin - a neuroactive peptide detected by Gi-coupled GPCR
Our approach could be used to engineer a cellular robot that:
- detects serotonin and can chemotax to carcinoid tumors
- delivers imaging reagents (to aid in surgical removal)
or
- delivers targeted chemotherapeutic drugs to kill tumor
