Decades of previous biological research led to the discovery
that many cells have an internal structure akin to a skeleton. This cellular
skeleton, called the actin cytoskeleton, is somewhat like the bone structure in
animals; it provides the rigidity needed for movement.
Congzhou Wang,
Ph.D., assistant professor of nanoscience and nanoengineering at South Dakota
Mines, specializes in understanding the interaction between these cellular
skeletons and nano-sized particles, which are thousands of times smaller than
the width of a human hair. Nanoparticles are so small that they can be easily
‘eaten’ by cells.
“We are looking at how nanomaterials change the bone
structure of the cell,” says Wang. “If we break our bones, we can’t move; it’s
the same way with cells. If a nanomaterial disrupts the structure of the cell,
it renders it immobile.”
Wang has won a highly prestigious National Science
Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award for his work, which has real promise for both
stopping cancer and understanding how nanomaterials interact with the body. Read
more about the NSF CAREER Award
here.
Stopping Cancer
Wang aims to find nanoparticles that can attack the cytoskeleton
of cancer cells, leaving them unable to metastasize and spread through the body.
“It’s usually not the primary tumor that kills you,
it’s the cancer spreading to other organs,” says Wang. “Ninety percent of
cancer deaths are because of the movement of cancer cells that spread and cause
new tumors and we are working to stop this movement."
Wang is seeking to find nanomaterials that can impact
cancer cells without harming surrounding healthy cells. “We can design
nanomaterials that can target and immobilize cancer, making it easier to treat
before it spreads,” Wang says.
Wang began initial investigations and had preliminary
data on breast cancer. Next, he will examine prostate and skin cancer cells. He
hopes to show certain nanomaterials can be used to stop the movement of a broad
range of malignant cells.
Understanding Nanoparticles
in the Body
Wang is also examining how nanoparticles interact
with normal healthy cells. “This is related to environmental science, because in
our daily life we interact with both synthetic and naturally occurring
nanomaterials. They are in our water, in the air and in many of the things we
touch,” he says.
These nanoparticles can enter our blood vessels and
sometimes are absorbed in the cells lining the vessel walls. Wang is examining
nanoparticles that can change the bone structure of normal cells. “This is more
related to the toxicity of nanomaterials,” he says. A better understanding of how various
nanomaterials interact with normal human cells can help researchers understand
their possible environmental and physiological impact.
In his next phase of research, Wang aims to closely
examine how nanoparticles interact with the cells on the walls of blood
vessels.
World-Class Research
Wang is one of three faculty at Mines to win an NSF
CAREER Award since 2015.
“This is a wonderful achievement. Congratulations to
Dr. Wang,” says Mines President Jim Rankin. “This prestigious award is
reflective of the world-class faculty we are proud to have at Mines. This award
also shows the high return on investment in university research that advances
science and improves our world.”
Wang gives praise to his fellow researchers in the
nanoscience and nanoengineering department at Mines. “Dr. Steve Smith, who
leads the nano department and biomedical engineering at South Dakota Mines, is
a very experienced researcher who has been a huge help offering suggestions for
improvement in all my work, especially on the super-resolution imaging of single
cells,” says Wang. He also gives high praise to his third-year doctoral student
Jinyuan Liu, who has played an important role advancing the laboratory
research. “Because of COVID, we have had trouble recruiting students. I have
been very lucky to have Jinyuan, who has produced vital data for this grant
application.”
Wang also thanks the South Dakota Established Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research (EPSCoR) for funding the purchase of the highly sensitive
scientific instruments in his lab, essential for studying nanoparticle
interactions in biological systems, including an atomic force microscope purchased
through the EPSCoR-funded statewide bioscience research center BioSystems
Networks / Translational Research (BioSNTR). South Dakota EPSCoR also assisted
Wang by engaging a consulting firm to review his NSF Career proposal before
submission. Wang’s research is also funded by the National Institutes of Health
and the South Dakota Board of Regents through the collaborative research award
shared between Mines, SDSU, and USD (IMAGEN: Biomaterials Research in South
Dakota) and an SDBOR competitive research award.
Inspiring the Next Generation
of Researchers
Besides his work in the lab, Wang also teaches the
freshman biomedical engineering course (BME 101). “This gives me an advantage
because I get to work with a lot of freshmen who are eager and willing to come
work in my lab,” says Wang. At Mines, undergraduate students often get a chance
to do hands-on research. Wang will also work with Cassandra Birrenkott, Ph.D., who
leads the SD First
Program aimed at improving outcomes for first generation students. “Too often
college students drop out after their first summer. Our proposal is to recruit
some first-year students who can get paid and get excited about the research, and
this way we can retain them,” says Wang.