Development of Silicon-Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Targeted Molecular Imaging and Hyperthermic Therapy of Prostate Cancer.

摘要

The main goal of the research project is to develop and test a novel class of dual-threat theranostic nanoparticles for targeted imaging and hyperthermic therapy of prostate cancer. These particles consist of both silicon (for hyperpolarized magnetic resonance imaging, (MRI) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (for hyperthermic therapy). Preliminary results show that simple mixtures between the two particles still allow for hyperpolarized MRI to take place, albeit with a slightly broadened 29Si NMR lineshape. The first batch of particles has been completed and physically characterized (tunneling electron microsopy, dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) and shown a viable coupling between the silicon (approximately 300 nm) and iron oxide (approximately 5 nm), with the iron oxide attaching to the surface of the silicon. A small-scale hyperthermia device that induces therapeutic heating in the nanoparticles has been acquired and set up. The next steps include hyperpolarizing this first batch of particles and testing their hyperthermic effect, then applying to gelatin phantoms and prostate cancer mouse models.