Rice Univesrity Logo
    • FAQ
    • Deposit your work
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   Rice Scholarship Home
    • Rice University Graduate Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Rice University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   Rice Scholarship Home
    • Rice University Graduate Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Rice University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Near-Infrared Silica-Based Gold Nanoshells as Potential Rapid Diagnostic Imaging Agents For Breast Cancer Tumor Detection

    Thumbnail
    Name:
    BickfordL.pdf
    Size:
    3.631Mb
    Format:
    PDF
    View/Open
    Author
    Bickford, Lissett Ramirez
    Date
    2011
    Advisor
    Drezek, Rebekah A.
    Degree
    Doctor of Philosophy
    Abstract
    Although much research has focused on using near-infrared silica-based gold nanoshells for dual-imaging and therapeutic applications in vivo, these particles may also prove useful as rapid diagnostic imaging agents for ex vivo applications, such as intraoperative tumor margin detection. In this thesis, gold nanoshells were successfully designed to target breast cancer cells through antibodies against the extracellular Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2) , whose overexpression is associated with more aggressive forms of breast cancer. By comparing HER2-positive breast cancer cells to normal (nonneoplastic) breast cells, the nanoshells effectively labeled HER2- overexpression within 5 minutes of incubation time. These nanoshells also enhanced contrast of the same cancer cells using two-photon microscopy, which enabled subsequent validation of preferential labeling using a distinctive co-culture experiment. To ultimately translate these findings to the clinic, nanoshells of similar design were studied for their effectiveness at enhancing contrast of malignancy in breast tissue sections and intact human breast tissue. Through detailed experimental conditions, these nanoshells increased contrast of cancer cells in sectioned HER2-overexpressing breast tissue within 5 minutes of incubation time using reflectance confocal microscopy, a unique imaging capability not previously reported. Finally, these targeted nanoshells ii were used to effectively visualize HER2 receptor expression in intact human breast tissue specimens within the same 5 minute incubation time point. Through two-photon imaging, it was shown that these nanoparticies preferentially labeled tissue surface receptors, with minimal penetration depth. Importantly, the enhanced surface labeling was observed macroscopically through a standard stereomicroscope and confirmed microscopically through reflectance confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry. These results suggest that anti-HER2-nanoshells used in tandem with a near-infrared reflectance confocal microscope and a standard stereomicroscope may potentially be used to discern HER2-overexpressing cancerous tissue from normal tissue in near real time and offer a rapid supplement to current diagnostic techniques. 111 were used to effectively visualize HER2 receptor expression in intact human breast tissue specimens within the same 5 minute incubation time point. Through two-photon imaging, it was shown that these nanoparticles preferentially labeled tissue surface receptors, with minimal penetration depth. Importantly, the enhanced surface labeling was observed macroscopically through a standard stereomicroscope and confirmed microscopically through reflectance confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry. These results suggest that anti-HER2-nanoshells used in tandem with a near-infrared reflectance confocal microscope and a standard stereomicroscope may potentially be used to discern HER2-overexpressing cancerous tissue from normal tissue in near real time and offer a rapid supplement to current diagnostic techniques. iii
    Keyword
    Engineering; Biomedical engineering; Oncology
    Citation
    Bickford, Lissett Ramirez. "Near-Infrared Silica-Based Gold Nanoshells as Potential Rapid Diagnostic Imaging Agents For Breast Cancer Tumor Detection." (2011) Diss., Rice University. https://hdl.handle.net/1911/64385.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Collections
    • Rice University Electronic Theses and Dissertations [13409]

    Home | FAQ | Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Accessibility Statement
    Managed by the Digital Scholarship Services at Fondren Library, Rice University
    Physical Address: 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005
    Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O.BOX 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892
    Site Map

     

    Searching scope

    Browse

    Entire ArchiveCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsTypeThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsType

    My Account

    Login

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Home | FAQ | Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Accessibility Statement
    Managed by the Digital Scholarship Services at Fondren Library, Rice University
    Physical Address: 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005
    Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O.BOX 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892
    Site Map