Dror Fixler
Faculty of Engineering and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University,Israel.
Title: Nano-theranostics with plasmonic nanoparticles
Biography
Biography: Dror Fixler
Abstract
Current medical treatments are largely based on statistics and time. In our talk we will present highly efficient probes describing patient-specific in vivo disease behaviors and therapy responses. Our method is based on gold nanoparticles (GNPs) that bind to fluorescent molecules and other chemical molecules. Using the plasmon properties of the GNPs, we control the optical signals obtainable from our constructs so that they will be able to respond to their surroundings in a sensitive manner. In addition in this method we will image our constructs using several modalities to emphasize their usefulness for in vivo detection in a variety of exciting biological research topics.
In our talk we will show several empanels aiming to present a new, simple and non-invasive method to detect, locate, and to treat several diseases. One example will be detection and treatment of atherosclerosis (AS) at its very early stages. We use GNPs combined with the diffusion reflection (DR) method to demonstrate the detection of vulnerable AS plaques. Our method is based on the fact that macrophages are a major component in the vulnerable plaque and are able to uptake metal nanoparticles that can be discovered by the DR system. In addition, it is well known that high density lipoprotein (HDL) reduces AS. Thus, the specific treatment of AS is presented, as the GNPs serve as drug carriers of HDL. Early and accurate non-invasive detection of AS plaques by DR method and GNPs may allow serially monitoring the rate of disease progression and thus tailoring therapeutic measures accordingly.