Nano-scale sensors to map single cells and mini-tumors metabolism and drug movement
Official title: Nanoelectrochemical Techniques for Single Cell and Spheroid Metabolomics and Pharmacokinetics
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11392301 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Purdue-led project will develop tiny electrochemical sensors to measure many cellular metabolites and how drugs move over time in individual cells and small cell clusters.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $413,372 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM138133-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392301 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients whose tissues or related samples could provide cells or spheroids for measurement, or who may later participate in trials connected to nanoelectrochemical sensing.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tissues are not suitable for nano-scale measurements or who are not connected to cellular studies may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This research aims to create ultra-small electrochemical tools that can probe single cells and spheroids with minimal disruption. The team will miniaturize metabolite sensors and explore nanoelectrodes to capture time-resolved drug concentrations and cellular metabolites. The approach emphasizes high-resolution measurements while preserving cell health, potentially revealing new details about cellular function and how drugs behave inside cells. Over five years, the project plans to advance sensing methods, aiming for practical tools that could translate into better understanding of diseases at the cellular level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more precise insight into how cells metabolize substances and how drugs reach their targets.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown nanoelectrode sensing in cells, but this project seeks to push sensitivity and perturbation minimality to new levels, representing a novel advancement.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dick, Jeffrey E — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Dick, Jeffrey E
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.