Breeding fluorescent mouse models
We have established various intravital microscopy procedures to study solid tumors in vivo at sub-cellular resolutions. To facilitate improved detection of specific cell types/tissues during intravital microscopy, imaging of mice which express fluorescent proteins in specific cell types is a widely used approach.
In our work we are studying anti-cancer therapies which involve nanoparticles targeted towards tumor blood vessel walls. The vasculature is an important physiological component of solid tumors which provides the growing tumor with nutrients. Moreover, it is a major barrier for intravenously administered therapeutics on their way to the tumor tissue. To study tumor vasculature in intravital microscpy, we have established breeding of a mouse model which expresses green fluorescent protein in vascular endothelial cells. This model is immunodeficient, which allows us to grow human tumors in these mice.
The ability to study the blood vessel wall in living tumor tissue with intravital microscopy provides new mechanistic insights in how anti-cancer therapeutics interact with blood vessel walls and how they enter tumor tissue. This in turn will allow us to improve anti-cancer therapeutic approaches.
This project covers the breeding of up to 150 immunodeficient GFP positive mice. The breeding facilities are well equipped and animal handling will be done with care and as such the level of stress for the animals will be minimal. We will only breed the animals needed in experiments (which will be applied for in other FOTS applications) and otherwise only breed sufficient animals to maintain the strain.
In our work we are studying anti-cancer therapies which involve nanoparticles targeted towards tumor blood vessel walls. The vasculature is an important physiological component of solid tumors which provides the growing tumor with nutrients. Moreover, it is a major barrier for intravenously administered therapeutics on their way to the tumor tissue. To study tumor vasculature in intravital microscpy, we have established breeding of a mouse model which expresses green fluorescent protein in vascular endothelial cells. This model is immunodeficient, which allows us to grow human tumors in these mice.
The ability to study the blood vessel wall in living tumor tissue with intravital microscopy provides new mechanistic insights in how anti-cancer therapeutics interact with blood vessel walls and how they enter tumor tissue. This in turn will allow us to improve anti-cancer therapeutic approaches.
This project covers the breeding of up to 150 immunodeficient GFP positive mice. The breeding facilities are well equipped and animal handling will be done with care and as such the level of stress for the animals will be minimal. We will only breed the animals needed in experiments (which will be applied for in other FOTS applications) and otherwise only breed sufficient animals to maintain the strain.