Project 4
Brain Tumor Imaging and Therapy
using Magnetic Nanoparticles
Wenbin Lin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemistry, Project PI
Glioblastomas are a particularly devastating form of cancer and new approaches to diagnosis and therapy are sorely needed. This project addresses that need by building on innovative magnetic nanoparticle fabrication technology recently developed in Dr. Lin’s laboratory and on new murine brain tumor models developed by Dr. Terry VanDyke of the LCCC.
The iron-oxide based nanoparticles fabricated by Dr. Lin can be made extremely small (less than 20nm) and thus have the potential to escape the vasculature and enter tumors. Their surfaces can also be manipulated to achieve long circulation lifetimes and they can be linked to cell targeting peptides or aptamers (provided by the Combinatorial Library Research Core). Since they are magnetic, these particles can be manipulated in vivo through the application of external magnetic fields using technology provided by Dr. R. Superfine of the Department of Physics.
Project 4 includes the following aims:
- Preparation of a variety of magnetic nanoparticles differing in size, surface characteristics, and the presence of targeting moieties. The physical characteristics of the nanoparticles and their stability in physiological fluids will be examined.
- Development of techniques for manipulating the biodistribution and functions of several types of magnetic nanoparticles.
- Application of magnetic nanoparticles to imaging and therapy of brain tumors in a murine model making use of the Pharmcokinetics Core and the Small Animal Imaging Core. Of particular interest will be the deposition of nanoparticles within mouse brain tumors as monitored by MRI.
- Assessment of therapeutic applications of inductive heating of magnetic nanoparticles using external magnetic fields.
- Fabrication of magnetic nanoparticles that release chemotherapeutic agents upon magnetic stimulation.
This Project will make extensive use of the Animal Models Core, and will intersect with Projects 1 and 2 with incorporation of magnetic materials and MRI contrast agents in nanoparticles.
Links:
Professor Lin's homepage
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