Title:
Nanoparticle-mediated functional and molecular photoacoustic imaging for assessment of metastatic lymph nodes
Nanoparticle-mediated functional and molecular photoacoustic imaging for assessment of metastatic lymph nodes
Author(s)
Dumani Jarquin, Diego Sayed
Advisor(s)
Emelianov, Stanislav
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Abstract
Despite advances in prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer, this disease remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. The majority of cancer related deaths are due to metastasis rather than primary tumors and, although mortality rates have decreased over the last two decades, efforts to achieve comprehensive diagnoses and effective treatments still encounter obstacles due to lack of non-invasive technologies that accurately assess cancer. The goal of this project is to design a non invasive approach for the assessment of sentinel lymph node metastasis using ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging, augmented with contrast agents. The focus is two-fold: first, contrast enhanced ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging are evaluated as a tool to track functional and molecular changes of metastatic lymph nodes in relevant in vivo cancer models. Specifically, imaging of immune cell uptake and transport of lymphotropic nanoparticles to the sentinel lymph node, and imaging of clearable nanoparticles targeted to the epidermal growth factor receptor provide diagnostic information regarding metastatic nodal involvement. Second, alternative contrast agents are designed with the goal of solving challenges of the proposed techniques and augmenting therapeutic capabilities. Overall, the study is expected to help identify cancer based on functional and molecular changes, therefore augmenting and potentially replacing sentinel lymph node biopsy.
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Date Issued
2018-11-14
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Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Dissertation