Mustafa ElGharib, PhD
Mustafa ElGharib, PhD

Host Institution:

Koç University Translational Medicine Research Center (KUTTAM)

Supervisor:

Funda Yağcı Acar, PhD

Co-Supervisor:

Özlem Kutlu, PhD

Project Name:

LipoCanTher: Liposomal Nanoplatform for Targeted Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy in Cancer Treatment

Project Summary:

Cancer treatment is increasingly moving toward precision medicine, where therapies are designed to act selectively at tumor sites while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. My research focuses on developing next-generation nanomedicine platforms that combine therapy and imaging within a single system to improve treatment efficacy and real-time monitoring.

The project explores the use of pH-sensitive liposomal nanocarriers capable of responding to the unique conditions of the tumor microenvironment. These nanosystems will be engineered to transport multifunctional therapeutic agents that can be activated by external stimuli, enabling a combination of photothermal, photodynamic, and sonodynamic therapeutic approaches. By integrating multiple treatment modalities into a single platform, the project aims to enhance therapeutic outcomes while reducing the limitations associated with conventional cancer treatments.

A key aspect of the research is the incorporation of FDA-approved imaging moieties to enable non-invasive bioimaging and treatment guidance. This theranostic strategy will allow visualization of nanoparticle distribution and accumulation, supporting image-guided therapy and facilitating the evaluation of treatment response.

The project brings together expertise from nanotechnology, materials science, cancer biology, and biomedical imaging to develop smart, multifunctional systems for targeted cancer intervention. Beyond advancing fundamental understanding of nanoscale therapeutic platforms, the research seeks to contribute to the development of safer and more effective approaches for cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment.

By integrating responsive nanocarriers, multimodal therapeutic activation, and clinically relevant imaging technologies, this work aims to help bridge the gap between laboratory innovation and future translational applications in oncology.