Synthesis and formulation of advanced medical imaging contrast agents, application to lung imaging

Description of the position: the LAGEPP (University of Lyon, France) is looking for a Master 2 student wishing to apply for PhD grants (doctoral school...).  The candidate will have to pass a competitive exam to the doctoral school (EDISS - Université de Lyon) or other grants with the lab support. If unsuccessful to the previous grant applications, other PhD funding from the lab will be possible for students with an appropriate profile.

Project description:

X‑ray Computed Tomography (CT) is a central clinical imaging technique whose diagnostic performance relies heavily on contrast agents. Conventional iodinated formulations remain effective but have limitations, particularly regarding spectral specificity and detectability in emerging imaging modalities.

Spectral Photon-Counting CT (SPCCT) introduces major improvements, including enhanced spatial resolution, reduced electronic noise, and the ability to separate materials based on their energy-dependent attenuation. These capabilities enable selective detection of contrast agents incorporating elements with specific K‑edge energies. To leverage this technology, there is a growing need for new contrast formulations designed with tailored physicochemical and spectral properties.

This PhD project focuses on the development of innovative contrast agents suitable for both CT and SPCCT.

For this project, the advanced contrast agents will be evaluated for lung diseases imaging which are still challenging to diagnose and treat, despite advancements. We will carry out preclinical studies to evaluate the contribution in combination with the contrast agents using different routes of injection, either by intravenous injection or inhalation, on key lung applications: cancer and fibrosis. This will open to the concomitant imaging of lung ventilation and perfusion for monitoring the inflammation and pulmonary agent delivery in animal models.

The other objective will be to encapsulate drug of interest into nanoplatform for improve treatment of lung pathologies.

 

Methodology:

• Design and formulation of new contrast agents: Development of metal‑based or polymer‑based nano‑objects with high X‑ray attenuation, Selection of elements with suitable K‑edge energies for SPCCT detection, Control of particle size, morphology, stability, and biocompatibility.
• Physicochemical characterization:  Measurement of size distribution, surface charge, and structural features, Evaluation of colloidal stability and composition, Determination of attenuation properties across relevant energy ranges.
• In vitro toxicity of formulations: on cells models of interest.
• In vivo work: in vivo imaging efficiency will be evaluated in collaboration with cardiovascular radiologist (CREATIS lab, Lyon) on small animals. The student will be involved in all the animal work (toxicity evaluation, biodistribution, histology,…) as long as the image reconstruction.

The PhD student will be trained for in vitro and in vivo work if necessary.

Public funding alone (i.e. government, region, European, international organization research grant)

The candidate will have to pass a competitive exam to the doctoral school (EDISS - Université de Lyon) or other grants with the lab support. If unsuccessful to the previous grant applications, other PhD funding from the lab will be possible for students with an appropriate profile.

The LAGEPP (https://lagepp.univ-lyon1.fr/en/home/) is a research laboratory of the University Lyon 1 and the French national Institute for scientific research (CNRS UMR 5007). The LAGEPP-Gepharm “pharmaceutical engineering” team gathers strong pluridisciplinary competences (pharmaceutical formulation, cosmetic formulation, physical chemistry) in close collaboration with national and international research and development centers in industry or in academia.

The PhD will be in collaboration with cardiovascular radiologist (Hospices Civils de Lyon and CREATIS laboratory, Lyon).

CREATIS (Centre de Recherche en Acquisition et Traitement de l'Image pour la Santé, CNRS UMR 5220, Inserm U1294, UdL, INSA Lyon, UJM). CREATIS addresses imaging and identification of barriers in biomedical imaging (signal and image processing, modelling and numerical simulation) regarding major health issues. The laboratory has a strong expertise in in vivo evaluation of contrast agents with the SPCCT scanner.

 

Supervisor : Eloise Thomas, Yves Chevalier, Stéphanie Briançon

Experience in labwork. A previous experience in research in a lab is mandatory.

Skills and knowledge in chemistry, formulation for health applications, physicochemical analysis.

Interest in transdisciplinary subjects.

Motivated, curious, autonomous.

The candidate will have to pass a compatitive exam of the chemistry doctoral school and other grants. Grade above 12/20 and a good rank during Master 1 and 2 are necessay. The lab will support the candidate throughout the entire preparation to the competitive exam. If unsuccesful the the previous grants, other funding from the lab will also be possible for students with an appropriate profile. 

Application will be examined as soon as received.