Physico-chemical characterization of nanomaterials for cancer diagnosis, imaging, and therapy

PHYS 507

Jeffrey D Clogston, clogstonj@mail.nih.gov1, Jiwen Zheng2, Uma Ramalinga1, Scott E. McNeil, mcneils@ncifcrf.gov2, and Anil K. Patri2. (1) Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, Advanced Technology Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., NCI-Frederick, 1050 Boyles Street, Bldg. 469, Rm 117, Frederick, MD 21701, (2) Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, NCI-Frederick, 1050 Boyles Street, Bldg. 469, Rm 117, Frederick, MD 21701
Eliminating suffering and death from cancer requires an unprecedented collaborative effort that leverages resources from government, industry, and academia. Working in concert with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) established the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) to provide critical infrastructure support needed for the rapid development of therapeutics and diagnostics in the field of nanotechnology. Nanomaterials submitted to the NCL are subjected to a standardized analytical cascade that characterizes nanoparticles' physical attributes, their in vitro biological properties, and their in vivo compatibility.

Physical attributes such as size, size distribution and surface chemistry are key factors that contribute to a nanomaterial's fate in vivo. The first phase of the assay cascade will therefore focus on characterizing the material's physical properties, including the particle's size, size distribution, purity, surface charge density, molecular weight, composition, surface chemistry, relaxivity and stability. The batch-to-batch reproducibility of material as provided by the sponsor/vendor will also be addressed during this stage. Physico-chemical characterization of several different nanoparticles will be presented employing various analytical techniques relevant to nanotechnology to help determine their physical properties. Nanoparticles presented include dendrimers, nanoemulsions, liposomes, quantum dots, colloidal gold conjugates, MRI contrast agents, fullerenes, and gold nanoshells.

Acknowledgement: Funded by NCI Contract N01-CO-12400