The unprecedented potential of nanoparticles for early detection, diagnosis and therapy of cancerous disease has emerged as an interdisciplinary area, which shows promises to understand the components, processes, and dynamics of the disease at a molecular level. This talk will discuss our results with 'soft' (flexible) �theranostic� nanobeacons developed as biologically optimized nanometer-sized particles incorporating environmentally responsive anti cancer �pro drugs�. The principles of novel nano-engineering is applied for self-assembly and self-organization of amphiphilic small molecules, polymers, inorganic metals and metal oxides to design a vast array of colloidal particles with distinct chemical and biological characteristics, each with a specific size, morphology, charge, amphiphilicity, and flexibility. Covalent and non-covalent interactions are exploited in the development of new synthetic methodologies and engineering processes for the construction of these materials. Biological and biophysical impediments are overcome by the integration of functional moieties. Fundamental and translational studies are leading towards the incorporation of various functions into the nanomaterials viz. biological activity, imaging capabilities, drug or gene delivery performance, triggered destruction, chemical reactivity and defined in vivo characteristics among others. Rigorous physicochemical characterization is performed using analytical tools in both hydrated and de-hydrated state. Seminal results of image guided drug delivery using MRI and photoacoustics imaging will be highlighted, targeting angiogenic sparse biological epitopes.

Advances in theranostic nanomedicine: From a chemist's perspective

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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