Investigating Hybrid Gold Nanoparticle-Induced Apoptosis in HeLa Cells Using Real-Time Cell Analysis

Joemana Albibi

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: Hennings College of Science Mathematics and Technology

Major: MS.BIOTECH/SCI

Faculty Research Mentor: Swinton, Derrick  

Abstract:

Real-time cell analysis (RTCA) enables continuous monitoring of cellular responses, providing dynamic measurements of adhesion, proliferation, and cytotoxicity in HeLa cells. In this project, we integrate RTCA with high-resolution mass spectrometry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to generate multi-parametric datasets that correlate nanoparticle physicochemical properties with real-time cellular behavior and apoptosis-related gene expression. Using this dataset, AI/ML models are trained to predict cytotoxicity and guide the rational design of hybrid core–shell gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for drug delivery. By focusing on RTCA, this approach captures temporal phenotypic changes in living cells that cannot be observed with traditional endpoint assays, enabling a more accurate and mechanistic understanding of nanoparticle–cell interactions. Combined with molecular profiling and physicochemical characterization, this integrative workflow provides a data-driven framework for designing optimized, multifunctional AuNP drug-delivery systems and demonstrates the critical role of real-time cellular monitoring in nanoparticle development.