Targeted Gold Nanoparticle Contrast Agent for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis and Computed Tomography

Abstract

Targeted imaging agents use specific biomarkers that are present in tumor tissue to distinguish cancerous cells from their immediate benign environment. They are able to provide both structural and functional characteristics of the tumor such as shape, size, growth rate and expression level of cell-surface makers. The aim of the study was to demonstrate, in proof-of-principle, the applicability of bioconjugated gold (Au) nanoparticles (NP) as targeted contrast agents for use in breast x-ray imaging. I have successfully synthesized AuNP, with an average diameter of 21 nm, that have been surface-stabilized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains. The nanoparticles have also been concentrated to an extent where they show an observable radiographic contrast compared to water. I am currently procuring animals to study the in vivo characteristics of these surface-stabilized AuNP.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA524517

Entities

People

  • Roshan Karunamuni

Organizations

  • University of Pennsylvania

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Blood
  • Breast Cancer
  • Contrast
  • Detectors
  • Diameters
  • Electron Microscopes
  • Electron Microscopy
  • Materials
  • Metallic Nanoparticles
  • Molecules
  • Nanoparticles
  • Neoplasms
  • Particles
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance
  • Tomography
  • X Rays

Readers

  • Medical Imaging.
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Nanoscale Plasmonic Nanotechnology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biotechnology - Cancer Biotech