Edinburgh Research Explorer

Dr Asim Azfer

Research Fellow

Current Research Interests

My aim is to investigate and characterize the magnetic nano-particle in the musculoskeletal tissues using several molecular and cell biological techniques. Nanoparticles can be biofunctionalized with different biomolecules  required to be delivered to the cells to obtain an specific effect like drugs, growth factors and nucleic acids for gene therapy. Artificially made nanoparticles exert toxic effects on human cell lines. To overcome this concern we are trying to generate human cells able to synthesize de novo magnetic nanoparticles in the similar manner in which magnetotactic bacteria are producing nanoscale magnetosomes consisting of the iron oxide mineral magnetite act as microscopic compasses that allow bacteria to sense direction. The aim is to develop nano magnetic particle for tissue regeneration and orthopedic surgery. These can be imagined as fixed stations that offer a long living assistance to tissue engineering by controlling growth factors delivery in situ and monitoring the tissues.


Besides, above, other project in the laboratory is being undertaken such as role of IL13 and its receptors in the prognosis of Osteoarthritis (OA). IL-13 is potentially useful in the therapeutic treatment of OA, as it could regulate the major pathological process of this disease by reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines and metalloproteases, and favoring the production of its receptors such as IL-1RA1and ILRA2.

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