Dr Maria Jose Marin
Lecturer in Analytical Chemistry
Dr Marin has extensive experience in analytical bionanotechnology and the use of nanomaterials for diagnosis and delivery of therapeutics both in academic and industrial settings. In the field of nano-diagnostic tools, Maria’s research focusses on the development of fluorescent ratiometric nanosensors for the quantification of intracellular analytes involved in disease states including cancer. Her research in drug delivery focusses on the use of nanomaterials for targeted photodynamic therapy of cancer (PDT). She has published the in vivo passive targeting of melanoma skin cancer using gold nanoparticles functionalised with phthalocyanine drugs and polyethylene glycol; and the active targeting of breast cancer using antibody-functionalised nanoparticles. More recently, she has published the use of upconverting nanoparticles for the treatment of tumours that are deeper into the tissue. Currently, Maria is working on the development of near infrared photoexcitable nanoplatforms for theranostic applications in cancer.