 |
|
Brown Chemists Create Cancer-Detecting Nanoparticles
May 28, 2008A team led by a Brown University chemist has created the smallest iron oxide nanoparticles to date for cancer detection by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The magnetic nanoparticles operate like tiny guided missiles, seeking and attaching themselves to malignant tumor cells. Once they bind, the particles emit stronger signals that MRI scans can detect.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be a doctor's best friend for detecting a tumor in the body without resorting to surgery. MRI scans use pulses of magnetic waves and gauge the return signals to identify different types of tissue in the body, distinguishing bone from muscle, fluids from solids, and so on.
Scientists have found that magnetic nanoparticles can be especially helpful in locating cancerous cell clusters during MRI scans. Like teeny guide missiles, the nanoparticles seek out tumor cells and attach themselves to them. Once the nanoparticles bind themselves to these cancer cells, the particles operate like radio transmitters, greatly aiding the MRI's detection capability.
Now, Brown University chemist Shouheng Sun and a team of researchers have created the smallest magnetic nanoparticles to date that can be employed on such seek-and-find missions. With a thinner coating, the particles also emit a stronger signal for the MRI to detect.
The results have been published online this week in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Brown graduates students Jin Xie, Chenjie Xu and Sheng Peng collaborated on the research, along with Professor Xiaoyuan Chen and his associates from Stanford University.
The team created peptide-coated iron oxide nanoparticles - particles billionths of a meter in size. The researchers injected the particles into mice and tested their ability to locate a brain tumor cell called U87MG. Sun and his collaborators concentrated specifically on the nanoparticle's size and the thickness of the peptide coating, which ensures the nanoparticle attaches to the tumor cell.
Size is important because the trick is to create a nanoparticle that is small enough to navigate through the bloodstream and reach the diseased area. Bigger particles tend to stack up, creating the circulatory system's version of a traffic jam. Sun's team developed a nanoparticle that is about 8.4 nanometers in overall diameter - some six times smaller than the size of particles currently used in medicine.
"We wanted to make (the nanoparticle) very small, so the body's immune system won't recognize it," Sun explained. "That way, you let more particles interact with and attach to the tumor cell."
Nanoparticles are important in MRI detection because they enhance what scientists refer to as the "contrast" between the background, such as water molecules in the body, and a solid mass, such as a tumor.
The coating, while integral to the nanoparticles' attachment to the tumor cell, also is crucial to establishing the "signal-to-noise" ratio that a MRI uses. The thinner the coating, the stronger the emitted signal and vice versa. Sun's team outfitted their nanoparticles with a two-nanometer thick peptide coating - 10 times thinner than the coating available in popular MRI contrast agents such as Feridex. Sun's nanoparticles are like having a 50,000-watt radio transmitter versus a 150-watt station; it's easier for the MRI to "hear" the stronger signal and to hone in on the signal's source.
Another important feature of the team's work is discovering that the RGD peptide coating binds almost seamlessly to the U87MG tumor cell. The team plans to test the particle's ability to bind with other tumor cells in further animal experiments.
The National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) funded the research.
Brown University
Now, Brown University chemist Shouheng Sun and a team of researchers have created the smallest magnetic nanoparticles to date that can be employed on such seek-and-find missions. With a thinner coating, the particles also emit a stronger signal for the MRI to detect.
The results have been published online this week in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Brown graduates students Jin Xie, Chenjie Xu and Sheng Peng collaborated on the research, along with Professor Xiaoyuan Chen and his associates from Stanford University.
The team created peptide-coated iron oxide nanoparticles - particles billionths of a meter in size. The researchers injected the particles into mice and tested their ability to locate a brain tumor cell called U87MG. Sun and his collaborators concentrated specifically on the nanoparticle's size and the thickness of the peptide coating, which ensures the nanoparticle attaches to the tumor cell.
Size is important because the trick is to create a nanoparticle that is small enough to navigate through the bloodstream and reach the diseased area. Bigger particles tend to stack up, creating the circulatory system's version of a traffic jam. Sun's team developed a nanoparticle that is about 8.4 nanometers in overall diameter - some six times smaller than the size of particles currently used in medicine.
"We wanted to make (the nanoparticle) very small, so the body's immune system won't recognize it," Sun explained. "That way, you let more particles interact with and attach to the tumor cell."
Nanoparticles are important in MRI detection because they enhance what scientists refer to as the "contrast" between the background, such as water molecules in the body, and a solid mass, such as a tumor.
The coating, while integral to the nanoparticles' attachment to the tumor cell, also is crucial to establishing the "signal-to-noise" ratio that a MRI uses. The thinner the coating, the stronger the emitted signal and vice versa. Sun's team outfitted their nanoparticles with a two-nanometer thick peptide coating - 10 times thinner than the coating available in popular MRI contrast agents such as Feridex. Sun's nanoparticles are like having a 50,000-watt radio transmitter versus a 150-watt station; it's easier for the MRI to "hear" the stronger signal and to hone in on the signal's source.
Another important feature of the team's work is discovering that the RGD peptide coating binds almost seamlessly to the U87MG tumor cell. The team plans to test the particle's ability to bind with other tumor cells in further animal experiments.
The National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) funded the research.
Brown University
Nanoparticles Current Events and Nanoparticles News RSSFindings show nanomedicine promising for treating spinal cord injuries
Researchers at Purdue University have discovered a new approach for repairing damaged nerve fibers in spinal cord injuries using nano-spheres that could be injected into the blood shortly after an accident.
Chemists describe solar energy progress and challenges, including the 'artificial leaf'
Scientists are making progress toward development of an "artificial leaf" that mimics a real leaf's chemical magic with photosynthesis - but instead converts sunlight and water into a liquid fuel such as methanol for cars and trucks.
Magnetic nanoparticles to simultaneously diagnose, monitor and treat
Whether it's magnetic nanoparticles (mNPs) giving an army of 'therapeutically armed' white blood cells direction to invade a deadly tumour's territory, or the use of mNPs to target specific nerve channels and induce nerve-led behaviour (such as the life-dependant thumping of our hearts), mNPs have come a long way in the past decade.
An exquisite container
In campy old movies, Lucretia Borgia swans around emptying powder from her ring into wine glasses carelessly left unattended. The poison ring is usually a confection of gold filigree holding a cabochon or faceted gemstone that can be broken to empty the ring's contents. It is invariably enormous - so large it is rather odd nobody seems to notice it.
Hard Rain: Pitt-led Researchers Create Nano-Particle Coating to Prevent Freezing Rain Buildup on Roads, Power Lines
Preventing the havoc wrought when freezing rain collects on roads, power lines, and aircrafts could be only a few nanometers away.
Knocking nanoparticles off the socks
Scientists in Switzerland are reporting results of one of the first studies on the release of silver nanoparticles from laundering those anti-odor, anti-bacterial socks now on the market.
Magnetic mixing creates quite a stir
Sandia researchers have developed a process that can mix tiny volumes of liquid, even in complicated spaces.
Nanowire biocompatibility in the brain: So far so good
The biological safety of nanotechnology, in other words, how the body reacts to nanoparticles, is a hot topic. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have managed for the first time to carry out successful experiments involving the injection of so-called 'nanowires.'
Berkeley Researchers Find New Route to Nano Self-Assembly
If the promise of nanotechnology is to be fulfilled, nanoparticles will have to be able to make something of themselves. An important advance towards this goal has been achieved by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) who have found a simple and yet powerfully robust way to induce nanoparticles to assemble themselves into complex arrays.
Advance in 'nano-agriculture': Tiny stuff has huge effect on plant growth
With potential adverse health and environmental effects often in the news about nanotechnology, scientists in Arkansas are reporting that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could have beneficial effects in agriculture.
More Nanoparticles Current Events and Nanoparticles News Articles
 |
Nanoparticles: From Theory to Application by Günter Schmid (Editor) An introduction to the science of nanoparticles, from fundamental principles to their use in novel applications. As a basis for understanding nanoparticle behavior, the book first outlines the principles of quantum size behavior, nanoparticles architecture, formation of semiconductor and metal nanoparticles. It then goes on to describe the chemical syntheses of nanoparticles with defined characteristics, their structural, electrical and magnetic properties, as well as current methods to monitor these properties. Among others, the following nanoparticle-based applications are discussed: * Single-electron devices * Ultra dense recording media * Bioelectronic devices and sensors * Labeling of proteins, nucleic acids and other biomaterials. ... |
 |
Nanoparticle Technology Handbook by Masuo Hosokawa (Editor), Kiyoshi Nogi (Editor), Makio Naito (Editor), Toyokazu Yokoyama (Editor) Nanoparticle technology, which handles the preparation, processing, application and characterisation of nanoparticles, is a new and revolutionary technology. It becomes the core of nanotechnology as an extension of the conventional Fine Particle / Powder Technology. Nanoparticle technology plays an important role in the implementation of nanotechnology in many engineering and industrial fields including electronic devices, advanced ceramics, new batteries, engineered catalysts, functional paint and ink, Drug Delivery System, biotechnology, etc.; and makes use of the unique properties of the nanoparticles which are completely different from those of the bulk materials. This new handbook is the first to explain complete aspects of nanoparticles with many application examples showing... |
 |
Nanoparticles: Building Blocks for Nanotechnology (Nanostructure Science and Technology) by Vincent Rotello (Author) The diverse structures and properties of nanoparticles make them useful tools for both fundamental studies and pragmatic applications in a range of disciplines. This volume is intended to explore this diversity. The first section covers on formation of nanoparticles, and assembly of these systems into structured systems. The second section focuses on both the fundamental physical properties of nanoparticles and pragmatic applications of these systems in the areas of device and materials fabrication. The book will approach the subject from a chemical standpoint, in contrast to most books which are oriented towards materials science or physics. It will also appeal to materials scientists and physicists who are becoming aware of the contributions that chemists can make here. |
|
International Journal of Nanoparticles by Inderscience Enterprises Ltd | |
 |
Metal Nanoparticles: Synthesis Characterization & Applications by Daniel L. Feldheim (Author) Offers the latest research on the synthesis, characterization, and applications of nanoparticle structural, optical, and electronic properties. |
 |
Synthesis, Functionalization and Surface Treatment of Nanoparticles by Marie-Isabelle Baraton (Author) Synthesis, functionalization and surface treatment of nanoparticles is an area of crucial importance in the emerging field of nanotechnology. Controlling the surface chemical composition and mastering its modification at the nanometer scale are critical issues for high-added value applications involving nanoparticles. The basic applications of surface functionalization range from altering the wetting or adhesion characteristics and improving the nanoparticles dispersion in matrices to enhancing the catalytic properties and ordering the interfacial region, and such. The creation of specific surface sites on nanoparticles for selective molecular attachment is considered a promising approach for their applications in nanofabrication, nanopatterning, selfassembly, nanosensors, bioprobes, drug... |
 |
Creme De Jour Tinted by Marie Veronique Organics zinc oxide sunscreen no harmful chemicals no nanoparticles |
 |
60 Minutes - The Kanzius Machine (April 13, 2008) Airdate: 04/13/08 John Kanzius has no medical degree. In fact, he doesn't even have a college degree. But Kanzius does have terminal cancer, and that has motivated him to invent a radio-wave machine with the idea of treating cancer without the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Lesley Stahl tells this remarkable story of a leukemia patient so moved by the suffering of children with cancer that he has devoted himself to finding a cure. This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply. |
 |
Nanoparticles and Catalysis by Didier Astruc (Editor) Written by international experts, this monograph combines two of the most important aspects of modern chemistry, presenting the latest knowledge on these environmental friendly applications. This result is a comprehensive overview of the application of nanoparticles in catalysis, focusing on synthesis and the most important reaction types, providing all the information needed by catalytic, organic and solid state chemists, as well as those working with or on organometallics, materials scientists, and chemists in industry. |
 |
Nanoparticles Synthesis, Stabillization, passivation and Functionalization (Acs Symposium Series) by Ramanathan Nagarajan (Editor), T. Alan Hatton (Editor) Recent advances in the synthesis, stabilization, passivation and functionalization of a wide range of metal, metal oxide, semiconductor and other inorganic, polymer, organic, carbon and biological nanoparticles are reported in this book. Diverse shapes of nanoparticles are discussed here including spheres, cubes, nanorods, nanowires, nanotubes, nanocapsules, and nanopyramids. In the section on metals, one can find description of colloidal and wet chemical approaches to synthesize nanoparticles, methods to control number of functional groups and to attain aqueous dispersibility, impact of stabilizers on SERS activity, and ways to tune plasmon resonance via nanoparticle shapes. A time dependent density functional theory to evaluate adsorption properties of passivating ligands is also... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |