In the heart of the University of Nottingham's School of Pharmacy, Dr. Frankie Rawson is spearheading a groundbreaking research initiative that seeks to bridge the gaps between biology, electronics, and quantum technologies, with a particular emphasis on cancer treatment. As a pioneer in bioelectrochemistry, bionanotechnology, and quantum therapeutics, Dr. Rawson is developing innovative nanoscale devices that hold immense promise for revolutioni sing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer and developing underlying break through science to shape the future of biology, electrochemistry and quantum biological technology. With career highlighs of work published broadly his work is not moving towards trsnaltion with the establisment of the a company to translate quantum bioelectronic medicine.
Development of Electrochemical-based Biosensors Disease Diagnostics
Dr. Rawson's team has made significant progress in developing electrochemistry-based biosensors for early cancer detection which will be released and published soon. In a seminal paper published in Nano Letters, they demonstrated the ability to detect electron transfer events with unprecedented sensitivity using embedded nanoelectrodes insides of cells [https://doi.org/10.1021/nl203780d]. This work has paved the way for the development of ultra-sensitive diagnostic tools that could revolutionise cellular sensing which could be applied to develop diagnostics. However physically wiring into cells and translating this to an in vivo environment is not feasible. This led to major shift in the teams research in 2018 to develop new wireless technology.
Design of Wireless Electriochemcial based Bioelectronic Systems for Minimally Invasive Monitoring of Cellular Processes, Electricity in Cancer Cells
To enable real-time monitoring and less invasive treatment of cancer cell behaviour for personalised treatment decisions, Dr. Rawson's group has developed wirelessly powered bioelectronic systems to control bio-electron tranfer that can be implanted in tumours first reported in 2019 [https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsanm.9b01374]. Moreover in a groundbreaking paper published in ACS Omega [https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.1c03547], they described a system that utilises gold nanoparticles to wirelessly generate a bioelectric field, allowing for real-time monitoring of electricity in cancer cells. This work has opened up new possibilities for minimally invasive cancer treatment monitoring.
Moreover the group utilise 3D printing to create 3D bioelectronic structures whose electrical properties could be wirelessly controlled. They mimic the way cells are naturally organised in the body [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.201902016]. These material can be used to control the behaviour of cells in a variety of ways, which could have potential applications in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and biosensing. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.104552]. The researchers then tested the new material by combining it with cardiomyocytes, which are the cells in the heart that contract to pump blood. They found that the material was able to significantly modulate the behaviour of the cardiomyocytes, making them contract more strongly and efficiently. This we a significant step forward in the development of 3D biomimetic structures. The new material has the potential to be used to create a wide range of new products, from artificial organs to biosensors.
Harnessing Bioelectricity to Promote Tissue Regeneration and Restoration of Lost Function in Cancer Patients
Dr. Rawson and his team are at the forefront of exploring quantum-enabled drug delivery strategies for targeted cancer therapy. In a landmark paper published in Advanced Therapeutics, they hinted at a vision where control of cellular currents could be specifically targeted to treat cancer [https://doi.org/10.1002/adtp.202000248]. This work has the potential to revolutionise cancer therapy by minimising side effects and improving treatment efficacy and leading to a new era of quantum thepaeutics we have written about prevsiously .
Developing New Quantum Electrochemistry Theory to Develop New Therapeutics and Sensors
Entering the electron world, we depart classical physics and delve into the mind-boggling realm of quantum mechanics, governed by counterintuitive principles. Electrons exhibit wave-particle duality, occupying a spread-out region rather than a specific point, and can exist in multiple states simultaneously. They can even become entangled, their fates inextricably linked despite separation. These phenomena, though bewildering, have been experimentally confirmed, highlighting the profound nature of the quantum realm.
Dr. Rawson is now starting to work on developing new theory that merges quantum rate theory with Schrödinger quantum theory to explain and enable the careful design of quantum therapeutics to control electron transfer to treat disease. However, this is an interesting and potentially promising area of research. Quantum rate theory is a mathematical framework for describing the rates of chemical reactions, and Schrödinger quantum theory is a fundamental theory of quantum mechanics. By merging these two theories, it may be possible to develop new and more effective ways to treat disease. How
Wirelessly Controlled Quantum-enabled Drug Delivery for Targeted Cancer Therapy
In a remarkable breakthrough, Dr. Rawson's team has developed a wireless quantum therapeutic platform that utilises bio-nanoantennae to induce programmed cell death, or apoptosis, in cancer cells on electrical stimulation [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-023-01496-y]. This work has been published in Nature Nanotechnology and has the potential to revolutionise cancer treatment. The wireless nature of the device eliminates the need for cables or wires, allowing for minimally invasive and targeted therapy. However we need a theoretical framework to enable rational design of such systems as indicated above.
Harnessing bioelectricity to modulate signaling pathways in cells for personalised cancer treatment
Dr. Rawson's team has also discovered that bioelectricity can be used to modulate signalling pathways in cells, enabling the regulation of cellular processes and bioenergetic reprogramming [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbabio.2019.06.012]. In a groundbreaking paper published in BBA Bioenergetics, they demonstrated the ability to use or cancer cells to reprogramme bioenergetics to modulate signalling pathways. This work has the potential to revolutionise the way we treat cancer by offering a tantalising hint at the possibiltiy of tailored and precise treatment options that minimise side effects and maximise patient outcomes by control of electron transfer events as indicated int he now published work described int he last paragraph.
Conclusion
Dr. Frankie Rawson's research is at the forefront of innovation in the fields of cancer research, quantum therapeutics, bioelectronics, and nanomedicine. His groundbreaking work is leading to the development of novel detection, targeted therapy, and tissue regeneration strategies that hold immense promise for revolutionising the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. As Dr. Rawson continues his groundbreaking research, he is inspiring a new generation of scientists to push the frontiers of cancer research and quantum therapeutics, paving the way for a future where we can harness the power of these technologies to improve the lives of millions of cancer patients.
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