RESEARCH INTERESTS

The general goal of my research is the use of novel polymer-based nanostructures for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in medicine. Possible areas of application for these nanostructures are common diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, infections or immunological disorders. Specifically, I am using synthetic amphiphilic polymers to engineer nanometer-sized polymer vesicles with modified surfaces for targeting of drugs or contrast agents to cells or tissues. The main cellular target are the macrophages of the inflamed vulnerable plaques in arterial walls. The so-called vulnerable plaques are at high risk of rupture, a process that finally leads to life-threatening conditions such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Details about past and ongoing research projects can be found on our group homepage www.swissnano.org/Homepage.html.

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

• Broz P, Ben-Haim N, Grzelakowski M, Marsch S, Meier W, and Hunziker P. Inhibition of macrophage phagocytotic activity by a receptor-targeted polymer vesicle-based drug delivery formulation of pravastatin. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. (accepted for publication)
• Broz P, Marsch S, Hunziker P. Targeting of vulnerable plaque macrophages with polymer-based nanostructures. Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2007 Aug;17(6):191-197
• Broz P, Driamov S, Ziegler J, Ben-Haim N, Marsch S, Meier W, and Hunziker P. Toward Intelligent Nanosize Bioreactors: A pH-switchable, Channel-equipped, Functional Polymer Nanocontainer. Nano Letters. 2006 Oct 11;6(10):2349-2353.
• Broz P, Benito S, Saw C, Burger P, Heider H, Pfisterer M, Marsch S, Meier W, and Hunziker P. Cell targeting by a generic receptor-targeted polymer nanocontainer platform. Journal of Controlled Release. 2005 Feb 2;102(2):475-88

BOOKS/BOOK CHAPTERS

• Broz P (editor) Polymer-based nanostructures: Medical Applications. Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing; projected 2008
• Broz P, Hunziker P. Nanotechnologies for targeted delivery of drugs . In: Kumar, C. S. S. R., (Editor) Nanomaterials for Medical Diagnosis and Therapy. Wiley-VCH; 2007.

POSTERS/PRESENTATIONS

• Broz P, Ben-Haim N, Ziegler J, Vebert C, Marsch S, Meier W, and Hunziker P. Nanotechnology in Medicine: Toward Intelligent Nanosize Bioreactors: A pH-switchable, Channel-Equipped, Functional Polymer Nanocontainer. (4. price of Roche Poster Award) BioValley Science Day. Basel, Switzerland, October 17, 2006
• Broz P, Driamov S, Ben-Haim N, Marsch S, Meier W, and Hunziker P. Towards Intelligent Nanosize Bioreactors: a pH-Switchable, Channel-Equipped, Functional Polymer Nanocontainer. International Conference on Nanoscience and Technology. Basel, Switzerland, July 30-August 4, 2006
• Broz P, Driamov S, Marsch S, Pfisterer M, Meier W, and Hunziker P. A Nanoscience approach to diagnostic and therapeutic targeting of cells. Annual meeting of the Swiss Society of Cardiology. Basel, Switzerland, June 7-9, 2006
• Broz P, Driamov S, Marsch S, Pfisterer M, Meier W, and Hunziker P. A Nanoscience approach to diagnostic and therapeutic targeting of cells. 74th Annual meeting of the Swiss Society of Internal Medicine. Lausanne, Switzerland, May 10-12, 2006
• Benito SM, Broz P, Saw C, Graff A, Heider H, Meier W, Hunziker P. Functionalized ABA triblock copolymer nanocontainers for active drug delivery. (First price of the jury for best poster). Second Joint French-Swiss Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry. Beaune, France, July 1-4, 2003
• Broz P, Saw C, Benito SM, Graff A, Heider H, Marsch S, Pfisterer M, Meier W, Hunziker P. Targeting the vulnerable plaque: A task for nanocontainers? Joint Meeting of the Swiss Society of Cardiology, Swiss Society of Thoracal, Heart and Vascular Surgery and Swiss Society of Intensive Medicine. Lausanne, Switzerland, May 8-10, 2003
• Broz P, Saw C, Benito SM, Graff A, Heider H, Marsch S, Pfisterer M, Meier W, Hunziker P. Functionalized nanocontainers for receptor-selective targeting: A prototype drug delivery system. NCCR Nanoscale Science Annual Meeting. Pontresina, Switzerland, September 2002

ABSTRACTS

• Broz P, Driamov S, Marsch St, Pfisterer M, Meier W, and Hunziker P. A Nanoscience approach to diagnostic and therapeutic targeting of cells. Kardiovaskuläre Medizin. 2006; Vol. 9 (Supplement 12)
• Broz P, Driamov S, Marsch St, Meier W, and Hunziker P. A Nanoscience approach to diagnostic and therapeutic targeting of cells. Swiss Medical Forum. 2006; Supplement 30
• Benito S, Graff A, Stoenescu R, Broz P, Saw C, Heider H, Marsch S, Hunziker P. Polymer nanocontainers for biomedical applications. European cells and materials journal. 2003; Vol. 6 (Supplement 1)
• Broz P, Benito S, Saw C, Heider H, Marsch S, Pfisterer M, Meier W, Hunziker P. Targeting the vulnerable plaque: A task for nanocontainers? Kardiovaskuläre Medizin. 2003; Vol. 6 (Supplement 5)

MAYOR CITATIONS IN SCIENTIFIC AND POPULAR PRESS

• Technology Review, December 29, 2006, The Year in Nanotech: Article "Nanocures" and image for the whole article
• Nature Materials, Vol 5 No 11, November 2006, Section Research Highlights: Article “Smart bioreactors”
• Nano Today, Vol 1 No 4, November 2006, Section Research news: Article "Nanoreactors come alive thanks to pores"
• Newsweek International Edition, October 23, 2006: Article “Imagine tiny plastic pods…”
• Basler Zeitung, October 20, 2006: Article “Mit Nanobox gegen Krebs“
• Bund, October 20, 2006: Article “Nanocontainer aktiviert“
• Technology Review, October 4, 2006: Article "Cell-like nano particles for attacking disease"
• NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, October 2, 2006: Article "Intelligent nanoscale bioreactors for drug delivery"
• Tribune Médicale, August 25, 2006: Article “Des nanovéhicules injectables dirigés vers des cibles spécifiques”
• SNF Horizonte, September 2005: Column “Im Bild”
• NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, February 22, 2005: Article "Self-assembling nanoparticle carries payload to targeted cells"

AWARDS/PRICES

• 2006: Roche poster award at the BioValley Science Day 2006 in Basel, Switzerland
• 2005: Best final exam of Medical Faculty, University of Basel (Grade 6/6)
• 1999: Third best aptitude test of all Swiss medical students
• 1998: Third best University-entrance diploma of Grammar School Muttenz (Grade 5.4/6)
• 1995: Best final exams of high school Rheinfelden (Grade 5.6/6)
  

PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Surname: Brož
• Name: Pavel
• Title: Dr.med. (Medical Doctor)
• Address: MIPS, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel
• E-Mail BrozP@uhbs.ch
• Date of birth: September 20, 1979
• Place of birth: Prague (CZ)
• Nationality: CH

EDUCATION

• 2006 Doctorate in Medicine, University of  Basel, Switzerland
• 2005 State exams for Master of Medicine equivalent, University of  Basel, Switzerland
• 1999-2005 Medical Faculty, University of  Basel, Switzerland
• University-entrance diploma in December 1998
• Schools: 1986-1991 Elementary school in Rheinfelden, Switzerland; 1991-1995 High school in Rheinfelden, Switzerland; 1995-1998 Grammar school in Muttenz, Switzerland

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Aug. 2007 – July 2008    Internship in Internal Medicine, Regional Hospital Centre Biel, Switzerland; Head Physician PD Dr. J. Rutishauser
• Jan. 2006 – July 2007     Postdoctoral Fellow, Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
• March – June 2006         Physician in a Army Medical Centre
• Oct. 2004                       Trainee in Internal Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Head Physician Prof. M. Pfisterer
• Aug./Sept. 2004: Trainee in Pediatrics, Kantonal Hospital Aarau, Switzerland; Head Physician Prof. Dr. Hp. Gnehm
• June 2004:                       Trainee in Radiology, Kantonal Hospital Bruderholz, Switzerland; Head Physician Dr. C. Petralli
• April/May 2004:              Trainee in Surgery, Hospital Dornach, Switzerland; Head Physician PD Dr. P. Vogelbach
• Jan./Feb. 2004:               Trainee in Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland; Head Physicians Prof. Dr. P. Regazzoni and Prof. Dr. D. Oertli
• Nov./Dec. 2003:             Trainee in Internal Medicine, Regional Hospital Rheinfelden, Switzerland; Head Physician Dr. H.U. Iselin
• 2002-2005:                     Medical dissertation with PD Dr. Patrick Hunziker, Deputy Head Physician Medical ICU, University Hospital Basel
• 2002/2003:                     Personal tutorial with Dr. Urs Lüscher, Head Physician of the Surgical Polyclinic, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
• 1999:                              Hospital trainee at Hospital Rheinfelden
• 1996, 1997 und 1998:     Summer holiday help at Hoffmann – La Roche AG