Postdoctoral Associate  November 2001 – April 2004

Georgia Institute of Technology, Chemical Engineering Department. Atlanta , GA.

Ultrasound-mediated drug delivery in biological cells

The project won $ 2,700 award and the applicant was a mentor for the Undergraduate Scholars Research program at Georgia Tech & Emory University ( Atlanta , GA ) in 2003.

·         Optimized acoustical cavitation effects on DU145 human prostate cancer cells and cortical neurons in terms of cell viability and uptake of fluorescent molecules (as a model drug).

·         Studied cavitation bubbles dynamics (employing artificial encapsulated gas microbubbles including medical contrast agent Optison), acoustical spectra acquisition and analysis.

·         Made 2 oral presentations on the International scientific conferences and a journal publication.

The key parameters for cavitation’s bioeffects - cavitation bubbles lifetime and size distribution were determined using electrical zone sensing method and acoustical spectrum collection and analysis. Molecular uptake and cell viability was qualified with aid of confocal microscopy and quantified by flow cytometry. Regulation of bubbles lifetime and size distribution changes the level of cavitation, causing different bioeffects that can find biotechnology applications using cavitation-based acoustical signals as a noninvasive monitoring tool.

Visiting Researcher  April – October 2000

University of North Carolina , Medical Department. Chapel Hill , NC .

Human genomic and apoptotic DNA characterization

·         Studied the reassociation kinetics of human, mouse and rat genomic & apoptotic DNA fragments. Extraction, purification and restriction of nucleic acids were performed together with fluorimetric quantitation, UV- measurements and agarose electrophoresis.

·         Trained in separation and determination of proteins techniques (SDS-PAGE methods, Western blots).

A robust and sensitive fluorimetric assay for quantification analysis of mixture of ds- and ss-DNAs has been developed. The method can be used for determining reassociation kinetics for as little as 1 ng/mL of DNA and will find applications in characterization of genomic and apoptotic DNA.

Graduate Research Assistant   October 1997 – July 2001

Semenov’s Institute of Chemical Physics , Russian Academy of Sciences. Moscow , Russia .

Drug delivery properties and transport processes of a novel biodegradable polymer

·         Investigated connections between the mass transport and structure of the polymeric matrix.