Combining Raman Spectroscopy (RS) and advanced computational methods to address radiation-induced modifications in human tumour cells

• Grant number: 15/03441-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: July 01, 2015
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Junior
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Benites Aoki
• Supervisor: Alexandre G. Brolo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Victoria (UVic), Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 14/17260-8 - Photo-oxidation in biomimetic lipid membranes: from molecular-level interactions to the impact on photomedicine, BP.PD

Abstract

The global burden of cancer has continuously grown due to aging and growth of the world population alongside increasing cancer-associated lifestyle choices including smoking, physical inactivity, and ''westernized'' diets. Actions for prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatments are therefore required. In this scenario, the non- invasive Raman spectroscopy (RS) has emerged as a prominent tool for the biochemical analysis of human cells and tissues, which may provide subsidies to increase the effectiveness of treatments such as radiation therapy. This project involves the in-vitro culture of human tumor cells, further exposed to different doses of radiation therapy. The remaining live cells will be harvested for RS characterization, along with unirradiated controls. Advanced computational analysis will be applied to handle the data in order to correlate the radiation-induced modifications in the biological contents of the cell. We expect that our findings might allow advances in radiation therapy toward the improvement of cancer treatments. (AU)