What impact could you see it having on people's lives?
PARG: I envision this system improving medical treatment of diseases such as cancer. Using a light-triggered drug delivery vehicle, chemotherapy would be released at the tumor site rather than on both healthy and malignant cells. This system would decrease the drug dose and increase the treatment’s efficiency.
What are some of the major challenges you face in your research?
PARG: The optimization of the synthetic procedure of the nanoparticles was a challenge. It took me six months to find the proper conditions. During that time I had to stay focused, motivated and, above all, not get discouraged.
In order to overcome the problem, I had to carefully evaluate each of the parameters of the reaction and find creative solutions to control each variable.
What are some of the key areas where your work could be applied?
PARG: Medical science needs the development of nanomaterials to improve diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Our ultimate goal is to aid personalized medicine and create person-specific treatments.
What person, experience or moment in time first inspired you to study this subject and get involved in the field?
PARG: I was first curious about how cosmetic products, such as creams and lotions, work. For example, some anti-aging lotions have liposomes (tiny bubbles made out of the same material as a cell membrane that can be filled with drugs) that contain an active ingredient to decrease wrinkles. My desire to understand those kinds of systems brought me into nanoscience.
I pursued chemistry and chemical engineering while studying in Colombia, and now I'm doing my PhD at Concordia.
How can interested STEM students get involved in this line of research?
PARG: I highly recommend that students volunteer in the Lanthanide Research Group laboratories. They can gain experience and get a closer view of our work. Also, they should read relevant published papers and discuss the field with professors and graduate students to get a better understanding of nanoscience.
I would advise that students choose a research project they're passionate about because research requires dedication and, oftentimes, sacrifice.
What do you like best about being at Concordia?
PARG: I like the novel and multidisciplinary research the Lanthanide Research Group is doing. It brings together students and postdoctoral fellows from chemistry, biochemistry and physics.
We are looking at the biological application of nanomaterials, so a multidisciplinary approach is crucial and having people with different backgrounds allows us to approach problems from many perspectives. My supervisor, John Capobianco, has established collaborations with colleagues from other disciplines.
How is your team involved in Science Odyssey?
PARG: I am the head organizer of the Science Odyssey events that we're developing through the Faculty of Arts and Science.
We're designing a laser display in my lab that will demonstrate how nanomaterials interact with light. It’s called “Fiat lux: Let there be light.” This display will be accessible to the public on May 12.
Also, images of the nanoparticles that we synthesized in our lab will be part of the Lab Life Image Gallery, which will be exhibited from May 12 to 21 in the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (EV) and the Richard J. Renaud Science Complex (SP).
Are there any partners, agencies or other funding and support attached to your research?
PARG: The research that we do in Capobianco’s lab is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Centre québécois sur les matériaux fonctionnels, the Ministère de l’Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation, the Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Nature et Technologies and Concordia.
I received a loan-scholarship from a Colombian non-profit foundation called Colfuturo and have also received fellowships and scholarships from Concordia.
Find out more about Science Odyssey at Concordia.