BME PhD Defense Presentation

Date: Friday, November 2nd, 2018

Time: 2 pm

Location: IBB 1128 (Suddath room)

Committee members:

Stanislav Emelianov, PhD (Advisor)

Francisco Robles, PhD

Brooks Lindsey, PhD

Lily Yang, PhD

Baowei Fei, PhD

Title:

Nanoparticle-Mediated Functional and Molecular Photoacoustic Imaging for Assessment of Metastatic Lymph Nodes

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 technology or excessive morbidity. 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, it evaluates contrast‑enhanced ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging 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. Then, it includes the design of contrast agents to solve challenges of the proposed techniques and augment 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.