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Fighting Cancer

Fighting Cancer. with Gold Nanoshells. Goals for this presentation:. Expand concept of nanomedicine Provide a brief overview of nanoshells related cancer research Explore science behind gold nanoshells. First, lets get the big picture…. The BIG Idea. Gold nanoshells cover cancer cells

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Fighting Cancer

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  1. Fighting Cancer with Gold Nanoshells

  2. Goals for this presentation: • Expand concept of nanomedicine • Provide a brief overview of nanoshells related cancer research • Explore science behind gold nanoshells

  3. First, lets get the big picture…

  4. The BIG Idea • Gold nanoshells cover cancer cells • Specifically target cancer cells • Many particles per cell • Cell becomes more “visible” for reflective imaging • Nanoshells absorb light and become excited/heat up, cause cell death • Waste disposed of naturally, other cells unharmed

  5. But how does it all work?

  6. Nanoshells are made in a lab • Researchers create special nanoparticles • Gold shell grown onto silica core

  7. Why are nanoshells special? • Small (just over 100nm in diameter!) • Gold is biologically inert • Different from standard nanoparticles • Dimensions of the shell can be changed • Stronger interactions with light waves

  8. Next, Nanoshells are treated…

  9. …to be more biologically compatible… • Targeting treatment allow nanoshell to bind to abundant cell receptors on cancer cell • Surface coatings prevent immune system removal of nanoshells

  10. …and “tuned” to desired dimensions. • Chemical etching of nanoshell • Reduced shell thickness • Increased shell roughness • Core size remains unchanged

  11. Wait, why are nanoshells tuned?

  12. “Tuning” • Tuning is the process of resizing the exterior of a nanoshell • Allows nanoshells to absorb Near Infrared (NIR) light • NIR light passes through biological tissue harmlessly

  13. So… • Nanoshells now have surface coatings to… • Prevent immune response • Attach to cancer cells • Nanoshells now interact with NIR light • Specific wavelengths reflected • Different specific wavelengths absorbed • Nanoshells can absorb NIR light shining in from outside body

  14. How exactly do nanoshells find cancer cells?

  15. Targeting • Cancer cells have many more growth receptors than healthy cells • Nanoshells move from blood flow and attach to growth receptors

  16. Now that the nanoshells are attached…

  17. Take a picture of a tumor! • Specific wavelengths of NIR reflect off of the nanoshells • Nanoshells are more reflective than cancerous cells • Imaging attached nanoshells is the same as imaging the cancer cell

  18. Imaging with OCT • The process of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) • NIR laser shines into body • Nanoshells reflect NIR light back to a sensor • Sensor detects change in reflected light • Picture created from sensor data http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_coherence_tomography OCT image of a finger tip

  19. Now we’ve imaged our tumor…

  20. But what if we could get rid of it?

  21. Ablating Cancer • Nanoshells can be used to kill cancer cells • Nanoshells absorb a specific wavelength of NIR light • Change in energy causes small vibrations • Vibrations cause cell to heat up, causing cell death

  22. Lets review…

  23. Nanoshells are… • Grown in a lab • Treated to target cancer cells • Tuned to near infrared light • Attached to cancer cells • Imaged using reflection • Heated to kill cancer cells

  24. Benefits of gold nanoshells • Immunotargeting (binding primarily to cancer) prevents damage to healthy tissue • NIR light allow for non-invasive treatment • The same nanoshells that are used to image cancer can also be used to treat cancer

  25. http://www.edbatista.com/marketing/index.html What’s next? • Currently, nanoshells are NOT used in humans • Nanoshells have been used to image and destroy tumors in laboratory specimen • Awaiting FDA approval to begin clinical trials http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=453290&in_page_id=1774

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