Multifunctional nanoparticle platforms for diagnostic applications

The main objective of these projects are to develop multifunctional nanoparticle (NP) platforms that can aid in the detection of infectious, chronic and neurodegenerative diseases, directly through specific imaging or indirectly through capturing and manipulating cells and genetic materials. 

Over the past few years, NRC-SIMS has developed significant experience incorporating nanomaterials into detection/identification/targeting schemes and together we will expand both the complexity and utility of nanoparticle-based targeting agents by generating multifunctional hybrid nanomaterials that can provide at least two independent detection/therapeutic outputs simultaneously.  Specifically, these multifunctional nanomaterials are designed to aid in the detection of disease/health markers including pathogens, rare cells (cancer and stem), brain disease, and to participate in targeted drug delivery and sensitively detect DNA.  To achieve these goals, the following hybrid nanomaterials are being developed.

1) Surface modified luminescent/radiolabeled and superparamagnetic/radiolabeled nanomaterials for simultaneous dual-mode tracking of stem cells
Regenerative medicine is currently aiming at using stem cells to repair damaged cardiovascular systems.  A significant obstacle impairing the efficacy of stem cells for this purpose is the inability to efficiently track the fate of the injected stem cells in vivo.  To address this important issue, we are developing NP labels incorporating radioactive ions, fluorescent dyes and high quality superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPN) thereby rendering them suitable for the simultaneous imaging of labeled stem cells via positron emission tomography (PET)/fluorescence imaging or MRI/PET simultaneously.  The high loading of imaging agent within the NPs is expected to significantly increase sensitivity for the tracking of stem cells in vivo, allowing researchers to better understand the fate of stem cells introduced into the body for regenerative medicine. 

2) Superparamagnetic (SP) and luminescent nanomaterials for capture and luminescence-based detection (LBD) identification of pathogens and Development of SPNs for DNA detection

The researchers at NRC-SIMS have previously demonstrated that NPs with high loadings of SPN content significantly decrease the time required to magnetically confine a given target.  Expanding on this work, the team of researchers is developing polymer-encapsulated nanomaterials containing both SPNs and quantum dots, where fast magnetic confinement and luminescent detection of bacteria cells can be realized.  They are also developing magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated with dye-doped silica shells and large clustered SPN beads for sensitive FRET-based DNA detection without PCR amplification. 

3) Development of quantum dots (QDs) for biological labeling
NRC-SIMS researchers have previously demonstrated tailoring QDs for biological labeling and imaging.  Expanding on these efforts, they are currently elucidating the synthesis-structure-property relationships leading to the development of high quality QDs and will subsequently incorporate them into assays for the optical detection of cancer cells and bacteria.  As described above, the QDs will also be coupled into multifunctional nanoparticle probes to be used for simultaneous magnetic confinement and optical detection of bacteria.

Related Information

Institutes:

• NRC Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences