Thermal conductivity and diffusivity of human cells as biomarkers in early-stage ovarian cancer detection

目前，对于首次或复发性上皮性卵巢癌的早期诊断没有可靠的测试。该项目将开发一种新的微管热成像技术，如果成功，将导致对癌症进展，早期癌症检测和早期癌症诊断机制的新见解。 这项研究提出，特定的细胞类型对热具有特征性反应，可用于识别细胞类型。这一特性的表征可能会引入一类新的细胞热标记正常或患病细胞。更广泛的重大影响包括对研究生、本科生和高中生进行热科学方面的培训和指导。这将通过在纳米和生物工程程序，将联合收割机从不同的研究领域的方法，揭示有关生命过程的信息动手学习的经验发生。目前的项目目标是：（1）确定浆液性上皮性卵巢癌进展的细胞系面板的热特性。将准备上皮性卵巢癌的3D模型作为试验床。微传感器和伴随的技术方法的热导率和热扩散率从以前发表的工作将被用于临床相关的浆液性上皮卵巢癌细胞系;（2）相关的热特性曲线与增殖特性曲线作为过渡预测模型在上皮性卵巢癌。热探测细胞的后续分析将使用荧光分析来确定刃天青检测到的增殖。将进行线性回归分析，以确定热表征的曲线沿着增殖表征是否与癌症转变相关。值得注意的是，新的热性能可以取代目前的模式，强调依赖于广泛的基因组和蛋白质组学分析。此外，该项目的附加值是识别（并继续调查以了解）细胞固有的热特性。如果成功，该技术和方法将允许非侵入性工具，更快地诊断上皮性卵巢癌，加快下一步生物样本测定以早期验证该方法和技术。事实上，这种热力学细胞特性的实证研究将推进最近提出的理论，在代谢重编程，生物能量学和氧化还原代谢状态在癌细胞存活的热传递作用。 这种新发现将为新疗法打开大门。此外，当与腹腔镜检查相结合时，未来在所讨论的细胞位置的实时诊断可能会导致早期检测和诊断。这项技术表面上将扩展到其他循环血液肿瘤和疾病模型，为癌症检测和治疗解决方案的未来发展提供支持。代表性不足的学生将通过北德克萨斯大学麦克奈尔学者计划，国家科学基金会本科生研究经验计划的首选新兵。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Currently, there is no reliable test for early diagnosis of first time or recurrent epithelial ovarian cancers. This project will develop a new technique of micropipette thermography, which, if successful, will lead to new insights into mechanisms of cancer progression, early cancer detection, and early cancer diagnosis. This research proposes that specific cell types possess characteristic responses to heat that can be used to identify the cell type. Characterization of this property may introduce a new class of cellular thermal markers for normal or diseased cells. Significant broader impacts included the training and mentorship of graduate, undergraduate and high school students in thermal sciences. This will occur through hands-on learning experiences in the nano and bioengineering program that will combine approaches from different fields of study to reveal information about a life process.The current project objectives are: (1) to determine the thermal characterization profiles of a cell line panel of serous epithelial ovarian cancer progression. A 3D model of epithelial ovarian cancer will be prepared as a test bed. Microsensors and the accompanying technical method for both the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity from previous published work will be used on clinically relevant serous epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines; (2) to correlate the thermal characterization profile with the proliferation characterization profile as a Transition Prediction Model in epithelial ovarian cancer. Subsequent analysis of the thermal-probed cells will use fluorescence analysis to determine resazurin-detected proliferation. A linear regression analysis will be performed to determine whether the profiles for thermal characterization along with proliferation characterization are correlated with cancer transition. It is noted that novel thermal properties could supersede the current paradigm which emphasizes the reliance on extensive genomic and proteomic analyses. Moreover, the added value of this project is the identification of (and continued inquiry to understand) cellular inherent thermal properties. The technology and method, if successful, will allow for a non-invasive tool, faster diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer with expedited next step bio-specimen determinations for early validation of the method and technology. Indeed, this empirical study of thermodynamics cell properties will advance recently proposed theories of heat transfer roles in metabolic reprogramming, bioenergetics, and oxidation-reduction metabolism status in cancer cell survival. This kind of novel discovery will open doors for new therapies. Furthermore, future real-time diagnosis at the location of the cells in question, when combined with laparoscopy, may result in early detection and diagnosis. This technology ostensibly will extend to other circulating blood tumors and disease models, providing for future advancements in cancer detection and therapy solutions. Underrepresented students will be the first-choice recruits through the University of North Texas McNair Scholars Program, National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program. Texas Academy of Mathematics and Sciences high school program will also be included.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.