TARGET SPECIFIC NANOPARTICLES FOR ENHANCING OPTICAL CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT AND INDUCING TARGET-SPECIFIC HYPERTHERMIA

摘要

A particle for introduction into a biological or physiological system for enhancing optical contrast between target cells and surrounding tissue, and for inducing cell death in the target cells while minimizing effects on surrounding healthy tissue, where the particle includes a magnetic core, a metal nanolayer surrounding the magnetic core and a surfactant layer surrounding the metal nanolayer. Bound to the metal nanolayer is at least one specificity biomolecule having an affinity for the target cells is bound to the metal nanolayer and a therapeutic agent. The particle may be introduced into a biological or physiological system, and exposed to an electromagnetic field to induce hyperthermia in the target cells.