exam 2- nanomolecular diagnostics, docs 1,3,4

Question 1

doc 1
describe

Answer 1

magnetic nanoparticles to locate cancerous cell clusters during MRI imaging

RGD peptide-coated iron oxide nanoparticles, billionths of a meter in size –> injected into mice, tested ability to locate a brain tumor cell called U87MG (focused on the NP’s size and thickness of peptide coating, to ensure attachment to tumor cell)

• the super small NP helps to create contrast b/w the background (aim: provide more contrast in detection of tumors with MRI’s), paramagnetic NP- lights up MRI, gives visibility to smaller tumors
• the RGD peptide coating binds seamlessly to the U87MG tumor cell
• the NP targets tumors that have specific receptor overexpressed (integrin alpha and beta)

Question 2

doc 3
describe

Answer 2

to detect early cancer biomarkers (microRNA biomarkers associated with diff tumors, usually too low in concentration to be detected

• NP’s in shape of stars, have RNA and DNA strands folded up on each other (the RNA strand detects the biomarker
• if target microRNA is found, attaches to NP strands –> conformation change –> small particle folds into star part of NP (when shine a laser at this activated particle, the light shined is reflected, so intensity of light increases, can detect w machines)

Question 3

doc 4
describe

Answer 3

early detection of biomarkers for breast cancer

AuNP’s (spherical DNA coated in gold), recognition sequence goes through blood stream and looks for mRNA on cell of breast cancer –> binds and releases nanoflare, fluoresces that cell (scientists can go in and single out that cells that are fluoresced)

• the biomarker is mRNA from oncogene (indicates breast cancer)