Ian Wark Research Institute
ARC Special Research Centre
ARC Special Research Centre
Research Area: Biomaterials, nanobiomaterials, cancer, immunotargeting, plasmonic
Supervisor: Dr
Benjamin Thierry
Collaborator: Prince of Wales Hospital (UNSW, Sydney)
Description: Plasmonic colloidal nanostructures, such as gold
nanoparticles and nanorods are arguably among the most promising
nanomaterials in the medical field due to their ability to support
localized surface plasmons when excited by electromagnetic radiation
(light). Therapeutic applications involving gold nanoparticles have
flourished in recent years. The efficient generation of heat resulting
from the strong resonant absorption of light by gold nanorods and
nanoshells has been used to achieve intratumoral photothermal therapy
and clinical trials are currently underway in the USA.
Project Aim: The aim of this project is to develop hybrid
plasmonic colloidal nanostructures towards the design of novel
light-activated therapeutic strategies. Two major field of application
are proposed: photothermal ablation of prostate cancer and treatment of
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
Further Information
Prashant K. Jain, Ivan H. El-Sayed, and Mostafa A. El-Sayed: Detection,
Gold nanoparticles target cancer. NanoToday 2(1) (2007). Birch DG, Liang
FQ: Age-related macular degeneration: a target for nanotechnology
derived medicines. Int J Nanomedicine. 2007;2(1):65-77
