Friday, June 29, 2018

Week 3


This week has been stupendous! Last week, we started stability tests of radiolabeled nanoparticles in various solutions; the particles were incubated in PBS, mouse serum, and human serum. The week-long experiment finished this Wednesday, and I analyzed the data. We are going to rerun these experiments because we suspect that the human serum we used was old.



We also performed two more tumor resections from mice that had NSCLC tumors. One mouse was injected with nanoparticle drug conjugates, while the other mouse was given free drug via gavage. The tumors were each halved and one half was frozen for sectioning while the other half was stored in buffer for later analysis.



I also had the opportunity to passage an avian cell line, which I learned is very different from all the mammalian cell culturing that I have done in the past. These cells are weakly adherent, unlike many mammalian cancer cell lines, which I did not know beforehand. I quickly learned that I had to be gentler than I am used to when washing the cells. Due to their low adhesion strength, it was faster and easier to detach them for splitting.



In terms of clinical experience, I hope to start shadowing several radiologists at Weill Cornell Imaging in the next couple weeks. They perform mammograms, diagnose breast cancer, and perform biopsies at their outpatient center.



Outside of lab, I got to see the Phantom of the Opera, which was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had! I also got to see a disco-gospel concert in Central Park and tried Turkish food for the first time.

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