GOLD NANO-PEARL-

NECKLACES FOR
SIMULTANEOUS TARGETING,
DUAL MODE IMAGING &
PHOTOTHERMAL ABLATION OF
CANCER CELLS
BY: THOMAS WU

BACKGROUND
Many different types of nanoparticles with single functionality.
Magnetic nanoparticles utilised as versatile probes in biomedical
applications such as MRI
Quantum dots/fluorescent-dye-doped silica nanoparticles used in
optical imaging.


BACKGROUND ISSUES
Fluorescent dyes are susceptible to photobleaching.
Quantum dots are difficult to functionalize in a controlled manner.
Quantum dots are potentially toxic to cells.

THE RESEARCH STUDY
Develop multifunctional nanoscale device that is capable of
simultaneous targeting, imaging and therapy administration.
Gold nanorods (Au
rod
) have exhibited antiphotobleaching properties
as well as being chemically inert.
Au
rod
exhibit therapeutic properties as a hyperthermal agent.
MATERIALS & METHOD
RESULTS - TEM IMAGES
RESULTS MRI
RESULTS - FLUORESCENCE
RESULTS TEM IMAGES
RESULTS PHOTOTHERMAL THERAPY
Successful endocytosis of Au(rod)-Fe3O4-Herceptin
Probes used in the selective destruction of SK-BR-3 cells upon
irradiation by 785nm NIR laser.
Laser irradiation of Au(rod)-Fe3O4-Herceptin showed an average
temp increase of 20 25
o
C within 5min.
Irradiation of pure water showed no apparent increase in temp under
the same conditions.





CONCLUSIONS
Successfully produced an operational multifunctional nanoscale
device.
Demonstrated the dual-mode imaging process and targeted
Photothermal ablation of tumour cells.
Nanoprobes were magnetically and optically active in the NIR region.
Further research on targeted drug delivery and multimodal diagnostics
in vivo.
QUESTIONS