I have been advising two middle school students who are working on an ExploraVision science project. The project looks at the use of micelles for the delivery of new cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. Some of the questions for which we could use guidance include the following:

1. How can micellar component molecules be selected such that their in vitro breakdown products are nontoxic to humans?

2. How can the polar heads of micellar component molecules be selected such that they contribute to a structurally sound micelle in the blood stream, yet can disrupt the micelle under high redox conditions?

3. When a small cancer chemotherapeutic drug is added to a solution of micellar component molecules, how can you consistently ensure the resultant micelles will contain the chemotherapeutic drug?

4. If there are components of the above questions which can be addressed with simulation, can you provide guidance for creating such a simulation?

I look forward to hearing from the ResearchGate community.

Jerris Hedges

Professor & Dean Emeritus

University of Hawaii at Manoa

John A. Burns School of Medicine