| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/D001099/1 |
| Title: |
Novel Magnetic Nanoclusters for the Life Sciences and Medicine |
| Principal Investigator: |
Ellis, Professor A |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Leicester |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 December 2005 |
Ends: |
29 February 2008 |
Value (£): |
102,944
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Magnetism/Magnetic Phenomena |
Materials Synthesis & Growth |
| Medical science & disease |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Nanotechnology is showing enormous promise as a provider of new tools for probing and manipulating biological systems. Particles with diameters of a few nanometres are sufficiently small that they can readily pass along narrow blood capillaries and may also pass through cell and nuclear membranes. This proposal is concerned with magnetic nanoparticles. These have already found uses in the biological and medical sciences, particularly as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Magnetic nanoparticles also hold considerable promise for new types of targeted therapy, e.g. cancer therapy. Drug-doped magnetic nanoparticles can be steered by DC external fields to a specific part of the body, allowing localised treatment and thereby limiting damage to nearby tissue. AC external fields can also be used to generate sufficient heat to destroy cells, a process known as hyperthermia.In the proposed work we aim to demonstrate an entirely new process for making magnetic nanoparticles. This technique is based on shell-by-shell formation of nanoparticles inside the supercold, superfluid environment of a liquid helium droplet. The starting point is the formation of a continuous beam of helium droplets inside a vacuum chamber. Metal vapours intersect the droplet beam sequentially and are picked up by the droplets, adding metals layer by layer. This radical approach enables the design of nanoparticles with a degree of control which has hitherto not been possible. The flexibility of the synthetic scheme makes it possible to systematically design entirely new types of nanoparticles. By choosing appropriate combinations of metal layers, we aim to produce both ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic nanoparticles with superior magnetic properties to those currently available. These particles will be coated with gold, chemically functionalised by addition of organic thiols, and deposited on targets ready for transfer into solution. This feasibility study will provide the foundation for a longer term study to explore specific applications of these unique magnetic nanoparticles in cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.le.ac.uk |