Novel Photo-Thermal Controlled Drug-releasing Vector for Cancer Detection and Treatment

摘要

Cancer is always the leading cause of deaths in worldwide. The aim of this research is to develop a new generation of chemotherapeutic drugs with both photothermal activated drug release and MRI diagnostic function. Carbon nanotubes will be used as the vehicle to deliver platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs such as oxaliplatin or cisplatin. With the intrinsic photothermal property of carbon nanotubes, oxaliplatin would be released controllably. And with the surface of carbon nanotubes being modified with super paramagnetic nanoparticles as contrast agents, this new generation of chemotherapeutic drugs would have MRI diagnostic function. The therapeutic and diagnostic efficacies of this new generation of drugs for colorectal cancer will be evaluated using both in vitro and in vivo animal studies. The associated neuronal side effects will also be assessed due to the control of drug release. The ultimate goal is to make such drugs to be commercially available.