The goal of any successful therapy should be to improve clinical outcomes and ultimately restore normal tissue function. In Alexandra Stubelius' research team, we study and develop nanosystems and materials that take advantage of inflammation to target drug delivery and induce natural cell signalling. As inflammation contributes to a wide variety of disorders, including cancer and autoimmune diseases, these technologies can manage and improve the health and quality of a broad range of patients.
Drug delivery directly to the diseased area
One of the biggest challenges for future medicine is to deliver treatments and drugs directly to the target, the diseased area in the body. Many drugs that otherwise work well are eliminated too fast, are toxic when in the wrong place, or are difficult to solubilize.
Drug delivery research aims to improve a drug's effects, reduce its side effects, and improve cost-effectiveness and adherence. Therefore, the goal for future medications should simplify dosing schedules as well as to deliver the drugs to the intended target and eliminate side effects.
Design of nanovesicles
Our approach is to study, design, and validate targeted proteins and biological reactions in order to optimize material designs that interact with these processes. Because chemical reactions and cell interactions occur at the nanoscale, it is beneficial to tackle a disease with tools adapted to this level. Our focus lies in immune-mediated joint diseases, their immune-mediated pathogenic mechanisms, and how a material’s behaviour change when in contact with different patient populations. By delicately fine-tuning a materials’ qualities towards their intended purposes, tissue environments, and physical properties, we regulate immune responses to achieve improved health outcomes.
Group expertise
To achieve our goals we combine the knowledge of pharmaceutical scientists, immunologists, bio-, chemical-, nano-, and material engineers, as well as clinicians. With such diverse expertise, we explore interactions between our designed polymeric biofunctional nanoparticles and the immune system, both regarding pathogenic mechanisms as well as material properties.
Student projects and vacancies
Student
Potential summer students and master thesis students (available Master's thesis projects) that are interested in working in the lab, please contact Alexandra Stubelius, alexandra.stubelius@chalmers.se
PhD Student
Are you interested in joining the group as a Ph.D. student? One way is to apply for the annual Excellence Ph.D. student positions within Excellence Initiative Nano at Chalmers. You can find all vacancies at Chalmers on this page.
Postdoc
Currently, we do not have any open postdoc positions. But if you are interested in jointly applying for a fellowship to support your stay in the group, please contact alexandra.stubelius@chalmers.se
Group members
Research group leader
PhD student
Students
Sandra Ngo, IMC University of Applied Sciences, Krems, Austria, Master’s program in Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Laura Kaarma, Tallinn University of Technology, Master’s program in Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology.
Endri Bardhi, Chalmers University of Technology, Master’s program in Biomedical Engineering
Elin Svensson, Chalmers University of Technology, Master’s program in Biotechnology
Viktoria de Carvalho, Chalmers University of Technology, Master’s program in Biomedical Engineering
Yoliti Zaiton, University of Gothenburg, Bachelor program in Pharmacy
Joan Font Carriò, Ramon Llull University, Blanquerna School of Health Science, Program in Pharmacy