Magnetic/Plasmonic Nanoparticles for Cancer Theranostics

1066343 Pi：Girshick该项目涉及用于癌症诊断和治疗的多功能纳米颗粒的合成和表征。这些纳米粒子包括几层：超顺磁性氧化铁核心、二氧化硅层、金壳和聚乙二醇涂层。磁核为磁共振成像提供增强的对比度，并能够通过交变磁场加热，通过高温摧毁肿瘤。金色外壳便于光学成像，可通过近红外辐射加热，通过光热消融治疗癌症。二氧化硅层抑制了磁性纳米颗粒的聚集，并调节了颗粒的S光学性质。聚乙二醇涂层提供了生物相容的表面，该表面可以通过靶向配体进一步生物功能化。这项研究的学术价值在于，如果成功，几个项目活动将代表开创性的成就。该项目涉及纳米颗粒的合成和装载这些纳米颗粒的生物系统的表征的相互作用。正在开发一种工艺，其中通过一系列气相工艺来生产三层纳米颗粒，这些工艺构成了纳米颗粒制造装配线，在该生产线中，每一层的尺寸和成分被控制在纳米级公差。在与这些合成研究的密切互动中，研究这些纳米颗粒在生物组织中的摄取、性质和行为。如果成功，该项目将构成几项突破：通过一系列气相过程生产多层纳米颗粒的新方法；避免使用分子标记对细胞中金壳纳米颗粒摄取的第一次拉曼成像；第一次测量纳米粒子生物系统中的激光产热，将从亚细胞到组织的尺度上的光学和热方法相关联；第一种将产热与每个细胞的纳米微粒数量联系起来的方法，从而提出了一种确定细胞摄取纳米粒子的简单光学方法。该项目涉及一项合作，将纳米颗粒合成和加工方面的专业知识与生物系统中的热质传递专业知识结合起来。这项工作是高度跨学科的，涉及颗粒和多相过程、纳米制造、生物工程、生物材料、热和质量传输科学、光学和化学。该项目有几个更广泛的影响。该项目正在开发工具，这些工具有朝一日可能成为癌症治疗的重大进步。更广泛地说，该项目将使人们更好地理解纳米颗粒与生物系统的相互作用。纳米颗粒制造装配线可以构成一个原型，用于生产用于其他类型应用的多功能纳米颗粒，例如在能源转换方面。这个项目涉及两名研究生，在一个高度跨学科的环境中。私人投资机构在让妇女和其他代表性不足的群体以及本科生参与其研究方面有很强的记录，并将继续在这一项目中这样做。最后，私人投资机构积极参与了几个方案，这些方案涉及到K-12学生和更广泛的公众，以及更广泛的公众，这类外联活动将因跨学科项目而得到丰富。

1066343 PI: Girshick This project is concerned with the synthesis and characterization of multifunctional nanoparticles for cancer diagnosis and therapy. These nanoparticles include several layers: a superparamagnetic iron oxide core, a silica layer, a gold shell, and a coating of polyethylene glycol (PEG).The magnetic core provides enhanced contrast for magnetic resonance imaging and the ability to be heated by alternating magnetic fields, destroying tumors by hyperthemia. The gold shell facilitates optical imaging, and can be heated by near infrared radiation, providing cancer therapy by photothermal ablation. The silica layer suppresses aggregation of the magnetic nanoparticles and mediates the particle?s optical properties. The PEG coating provides a biocompatible surface that can be further biofunctionalized with targeting ligands. The intellectual merit of this research lies in the fact that several project activities will, if successful, represent groundbreaking accomplishments. The project involves an interplay of nanoparticle synthesis and characterization of biological systems in which these nanoparticles are loaded. A process is being developed in which three-layer nanoparticles are produced by a sequence of vapor-phase processes that constitute a nanoparticle manufacturing assembly line in which the dimensions and composition of each layer are controlled to nanoscale tolerances. In close interaction with these synthesis studies, studies are conducted of the uptake, properties and behavior of these nanoparticles in biological tissue. If successful the project will constitute several breakthroughs: a new methodology for production of multilayer nanoparticles by a sequence of gas-phase processes; the first Raman imaging of gold-shell nanoparticle uptake in cells that avoids the use of molecular labels; the first measurement of laser heat generation in nanoparticle-laden biological systems to correlate optical and thermal approaches at scales ranging from sub-cellular to tissue; the first method to link heat generation to the number of nanoparticles per cell, thereby suggesting a simple optical method for determining nanoparticle uptake in cells. The project involves a collaboration that brings together expertise in nanoparticle synthesis and processing by aerosol routes with expertise in heat and mass transfer in biological systems. This work is highly interdisciplinary, involving particulate and multiphase processes, nanomanufacturing, bioengineering, biomaterials, thermal and mass transport sciences, optics and chemistry. The project has several broader impacts. This project is developing tools that may one day constitute a major advance in the treatment of cancer. More broadly, this project will lead to greater understanding of the interactions of nanoparticles with biological systems. The nanoparticle manufacturing assembly line could constitute a prototype for producing multifunctional nanoparticles for other types of applications, for example in energy conversion. This project involves two graduate students in a highly interdisciplinary environment. The PIs have a strong record of involving women and other under-represented groups, as well as undergraduates, in their research, and are continuing to do so in this project. Finally, the PIs have been active in several programs involving outreach to K-12 students and the broader public, and the broader public, and outreach activities of this type will be enriched by the interdisciplinary project.