Papers by Keyword: Tumor Diagnosis

Abstract: Gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) have gained popular attention in recent years because of their efficient tumor accumulation through EPR effect and renal clearance. In this work, we put forward a new approach to prepare glutathione-coated, ⁶⁸Ga-labeled AuNCs (⁶⁸Ga-GHS@AuNCs) with ultrasmall sizes (< 2 nm) for PET/CT imaging of tumors. GHS@AuNCs has low cytotoxicity in vitro. PET/CT imaging revealed that the ⁶⁸Ga-GHS@AuNCs could target tumor and be cleared by kidney efficiently. Our study demonstrates that ⁶⁸Ga-GHS@AuNCs has great potential for detection of tumors.

Abstract: Each year 10.9 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer and it is the third most common disease in world. Early diagnosis of cancer and cure are major challenges. Recent advances in development of novel biomaterials as well as rapid progress in the area of nano-biotechnology has potentials to change all the current modalities of cancer diagnosis and management. The unique physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials are extremely helpful for detection of biomarkers of the disease, molecular imaging as well as specific targeted therapy sparing the normal organs. Nanoparticle (NP) has large surface area which can be conjugated or coated with different molecular probes for diverse detection system (optical, electrical, magnetic etc.) as well as used as a vehicle to carry different biomolecules and anticancer drugs to tumor cells. Semiconductor quantum dot (QD) with novel optical and electronic properties helped to devise a new class of NP probes for molecular, cellular, and in vivo imaging. A large variety of materials ranging from metal, ceramic, polymer, lipid, protein and nucleic acid are used for developing novel nanoparticles with multiple functions which can detect different aspects of cancer biology and progression. The major issue of concern is biocompatibility and safety of these materials and their fate after in-vivo use. However with collaborative interdisciplinary research it will be possible to develop safer nanomaterials in future

Abstract: Photoacoustic imaging (also called optoacoustic or thermoacoustic imaging) can image vascularity clearly with simultaneous high contrast and high spatial resolution, and has the potential to be an application for tumor diagnosis and treatment monitoring. In a unique photoacoustic system, a single pulse laser beam was used as the light source for both cancer treatment and for concurrently generating ultrasound signals for photoacoustic imaging. The photoacoustic system was used to detect early tumor on the rat back, and the vascular structure around the tumor could be imaged clearly with optimal contrast. This system was also used to monitoring damage of the vascular structures before, during and after photodynamic therapy of tumor. This work demonstrates that photoacoustic imaging can potentially be used to guide photodynamic therapy and other phototherapies using vascular changes during treatment. Prospective application of photoacoustic imaging is to characterize and monitor the accumulation of gold nanoshells in vivo to guide nanoshell-based thermal tumor therapy.