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Abstract:
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Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of male death from cancer . Surgical removal of the prostate is associated with high risks of surgical complications and consequences such as incontinence and sexual dysfunction . In my study , I have investigated a nanoparticle -assisted photothermal therapeutic method that may be used for treatment of prostate cancer in the future . This method is minimally -invasive and uses gold nano -shells as hyperthermia agents to treat localized necrosis of cancer cells . I have conducted a feasibility study for a new class of NIR absorbing nanoparticles called Gold Nanoshells for interstitial laser -induced thermal therapy . These are optically tunable nanoparticles , consisting of a dielectric core (silica ) coated with an ultrathin metallic layer (gold ) . These metal coated nanoshells were utilized to convert the absorbed near -infrared light to heat with more efficacy and stability . Extensive study was performed on tissue simulating phantoms in order to examine the temperature profiles . With different concentrations of gold nanoshells , temperature profiles as a function of distance (mm ) from the spot of illumination were determined . The phantom study was also aimed to determine the optimal power , concentration of gold nanoshells , and heat spread over vicinity . The results of phantom study were then used to carry out animal tissue study , where direct injections of gold nanoshell suspensions into chicken tissue were performed and rapid heating of gold nanoshell embedded tissues upon exposure to the near infrared light was measured . This procedure will provide the relationship among nanoshell dosages , light intensity , and duration of illumination for tissue damage . The success of this project will be helpful in exploring new treatment techniques (i .e . , hyperthermia ) for prostate cancer , thus improving the quality of life for prostate cancer patients . Furthermore , this technology can also be applicable to other types of solid tumors /cancers for improved therapeutic outcome . |