Dual-purpose “nanoships” for imaging and drug delivery

Researchers at the University of California and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a dual-purpose micellar hybrid nanoparticle capable of simultaneous magnetofluorescence imaging of, and drug delivery to, tumours whilst avoiding attack by the immune system.

The nanoparticles are about 50nm in diameter and are functionalised with a protein called F3 which can bind to cancer cells. The particles are hybrid in that they carry two types of smaller nanoparticles: superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIOs), which permit tracking and imaging under MRI and fluorescent quantum dots which can be imaged using a fluorescence scanner, along with molecules of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin.

Whole article on ucsdnews.ucsd.edu