Abstract
Introduction
Ovarian cancer remains one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies, due in large part to late-stage diagnosis and the lack of effective therapies for widely dispersed peritoneal metastases (Chan et al., 2006). Although this challenge is often approached as a purely technical problem, it is deeply intertwined with broader social and institutional factors that have historically limited progress in women’s health (Regensteiner et al., 2025). This project addresses ovarian cancer through two complementary approaches: a technical project focused on developing a targeted nanomedicine platform for treatment, and a Science, Technology, and Society (STS) analysis examining how structural inequities in biomedical research have contributed to the current therapeutic gap. Considering these projects together demonstrates the relevance of STS to engineering practice, as it highlights how innovation is shaped not only by scientific capability but also by funding priorities, historical biases, and institutional decision-making.
Technical Discussion
The technical portion of my thesis produced a theranostic nanomedicine platform consisting of immunoliposomes co-encapsulating lead-212 (212Pb) for targeted alpha-particle radiotherapy and copper-64 (64Cu) for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. These liposomes are engineered with surface-targeting ligands that enable selective binding to ovarian cancer cells within the peritoneal cavity, allowing for localized delivery of high linear energy transfer radiation. Because alpha particles travel only a few cell diameters, this approach enables highly precise tumor cell killing while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. A key distinguishing feature of this design is its integration of therapy and diagnostics into a single platform: the inclusion of 64Cu allows for real-time, noninvasive tracking of liposome biodistribution and tumor uptake, enabling optimization of dosing and treatment timing. Additionally, the use of a microfluidic synthesis platform ensures consistent liposome size, improved encapsulation efficiency, and scalability, addressing major barriers associated with traditional batch-based methods and supporting potential clinical translation.
Science, Technology, and Society Discussion
In my STS research, I investigated how the historical underrepresentation of women in biomedical research has shaped the limited development of ovarian cancer therapies. I found that systemic exclusion from clinical trials, particularly following regulatory policies that restricted the participation of women of childbearing potential, reduced the availability of sex-specific data and slowed early-stage drug development for female diseases (History of Women’s Participation in Clinical Research, 2024). In addition, disparities in research funding and public attention have disproportionately favored other cancers with stronger advocacy infrastructures and established screening methods, leaving ovarian cancer comparatively underfunded despite its high mortality rate (Halkia et al., 2012). These structural inequities have contributed to delayed diagnosis, limited innovation in treatment strategies, and persistent gaps in patient outcomes. My analysis emphasizes that these issues are not simply historical but continue to influence present-day research priorities, and that meaningful progress will require deliberate efforts to implement equitable funding practices, inclusive clinical trial design, and more representative biomedical frameworks.
Conclusion
Together, these projects illustrate that technical innovation and social context are inseparable in addressing complex healthcare challenges. The development of a targeted alpha-particle radiotherapy platform directly responds to a gap that has been shaped by decades of underinvestment in ovarian cancer research, while the STS analysis highlights that such innovations alone cannot resolve disparities without broader systemic change. Working on both components revealed that ethical engineering practice must go beyond designing effective technologies to also include critical awareness of the societal structures that influence which problems are prioritized and how solutions are implemented. Ultimately, this integrated sociotechnical perspective underscores that advancing women’s health requires both cutting-edge biomedical engineering and sustained efforts to address the inequities that have historically constrained it.
Acknowledgements
I want to thank my Capstone partner, Julia Kim, for being a collaborative and hardworking team member. I also want to thank Dr. Jiang He for his continued mentorship throughout this project. I am also very grateful to both Dr. Alexander Klibanov and our partners at Luna Labs, Dr. Yang Xu and Rick Hassan, for their collaboration. Lastly, I am grateful to Dr. Jacques for his guidance in writing the STS Prospectus and Thesis papers.
