BME Lecture Series: Warren Chan, University of Toronto

Abstract: Nanotechnology involves the engineering of structures, materials and particle in the size range of 1 to 100 nm. These nanostructures have unique biological, optical, electrical and magnetic properties that are in direct relationship to their size, shape and surface chemistry.  As a result of these properties, nanotechnology is currently exploited in medicine for diagnosing and treating diseases. In this presentation, the properties of nanomaterials and challenges associated with using them for cancer targeting will be discussed. The discussion will focus on how biological fluids, serum proteins and the liver influence the morphology, surface chemistry and targeting ability of the nanoparticles in cells outside and inside the body.  We will further describe chemical strategies using DNA-based molecular assembly to address the nanoparticle “delivery” challenge.   

Bio: Warren Chan is currently a Distinguished Professor in the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. Chan received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois in 1996, a doctorate from Indiana University in 2001 and post-doctoral training at the University of California, San Diego. He moved to Toronto in 2002 to lead the Integrated Nanotechnology/Biomedical Sciences Laboratory. His research interest is in the development and translation of nanotechnology for diagnosing and treating cancer and infectious diseases. He has received the NSERC E. W. R. Memorial Steacie Fellowship, Kabiller Young Investigator Award in Nanomedicine, the BF Goodrich Young Inventors Award, Lord Rank Prize Fund award in Optoelectronics (England), and Dennis Gabor Award (Hungary). He is currently an associate editor of ACS Nano. Finally, he is affiliated with a number of different departments at the University of Toronto:  Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Terrence Donnelly Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Research Chemistry, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.