Please note location in HAMP 2108 MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SEMINAR MSE PhD Examination Part I Polymer Based Drug Delivery Carriers for Cancer Therapy- Cellulose Nanocrystal as a Potential Candidate by: Shane Xiufeng Peng Co-Advisors: Prof. J. Youngblood and Prof. R. Moon ABSTRACT Most of the traditional cancer chemotherapeutic agents lack good water solubility, potent blood circulation time, and biodistribution specificity. Nanoparticle based drug delivery carriers can overcome these obstacles by taking advantage of the size and surface properties of engineered nanoparticles. Among the different classes of drug delivery carriers, polymer based drug delivery carriers have the most diverse structures and properties. Through structure control and surface functionalization, polymer based drug delivery carriers are designed to have enhanced in-vivo stability, tumor targeting ability, and controlled drug release profile. Emerging new nanomaterials such as carbon nanotube and cellulose nanocrystals have been utilized in various biomedical applications. Cellulose nanocrystals can be chemically modified to become polymer-drug conjugate type drug delivery carriers. They have the potential to create a new class of low-cost and sustainable nanoparticle based cancer therapeutic agent. Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2014 Time: 9:30 AM Place: HAMP 2108 Lisa Stacey Secretary/Development Assistant Purdue University School of Materials Engineering 765/494-4100