Glioblastoma is the most frequent and aggressive brain tumor. After diagnostic, the median patient survival is of about 12 months. Preclinical research to fight it is caught between too simplistic models, and animal assays with its ethical burdens and uncertainties linked to inter-species differences. This project will develop a model closer to the human body: a tumor-on-a-microchip. In a gel, constituting the tumor micro-environment, several human cell types will organize in 3D to form micro-vessels. Those will be perfused to mimic the blood flow, and study the transport and efficiency of new nano-drugs. Prototypes are currently in development with a goal of better understanding and treating brain tumors, while offering an alternative to animal experimentation.

SIBorG ANR JCJC grant (2024-2028) ANR-23-CE52-0001
3D-Glimpse ANER grant from the Région Bourgogne Franche-Comté
Descroix-Vernier Ethicscience innovation price
Temis Technopole article
Radio Campus Besançon interview
Article in En Direct Journal of the Université de Franche Comté

In the context of the AMED national project "human on a chip", I have developped a 3D in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier to meet the requirements of a consortium of government, academics and pharmaceutical companies. 
  
- Development of a coculture of immortalized or iPS derived human brain endothelial cells, pericytes and astrocytes 
- Optimization of a collagen-fibrin based extracellular matrix for angiogenesis and tissue differentiation 
- Biochemical analysis of the barrier functions and main transporter expressions
- Proof of concept for toxicological assays

In the ANR polytransflow project, my goal was to connect the approaches from biology and physico-chemistry to study polymeric nanocarriers interactions with 2D and 3D cell cultures (human endothelial and tumor cells).

- Formulation and characterization of polymeric micelles and polymersomes loaded with fluorophores
- Assessment of the nano-bio interactions at the cellular level (endothelial model on inserts, spheroids, biomolecular assays, fluorescence and electron microscopy)

My current research aimed to understand the toxicity of several nanomaterials chosen as models for the European SmartNanoTox project, and as a side project to question the toxicity and cellular impact of biosensors.

- Cell culture of human and murine monocytes, human osteoblasts, or glioblasts
- Biological characterization: cytotoxicity, histology, gene expression and transcriptomics

During my PhD, in a multidisciplinary and collaborative context, I acquired an expertise in two widely different but crucial domains in nanotoxicology: physico-chemistry and cellular biology.  

I aimed to link the physicochemical properties and the biological activity of carbon nanotubes. 

- Cell culture of murine macrophages
- Biological characterization: cytotoxicity, pro-inflammatory response, oxidative stress
- Acid functionalization of nanomaterials 
- Physiochemical characterization: structure, specific surface area, surface chemistry, dispersion, charge, structural disorder, catalytic impurities

For my Master of Science, I worked on decrypting the impact of silica nanomaterials of different shape and length on the skin. 

- Cell culture of immortalized human keratinocytes 
- Viability, oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, apoptosis 
- Physiochemical characterization of nanoparticles and nanofibers: chemistry, dispersion and shape