Medical Design and Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • Med Tech Resources
    • DeviceTalks Tuesdays
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • The Big 100
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Video
  • 2022 Leadership in MedTech
    • 2022 Leadership Voting!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
  • Women in Medtech

Nanoparticles Probe Deeper

May 16, 2017 By National University of Singapore

Prof Liu screening the nanoparticle solution to check their luminescence (Credit: National University of Singapore)

NUS Chemistry Professor Liu Xiaogang has led a multidisciplinary team of researchers from Singapore, Korea, China and the United States to develop a hybrid nanoparticle structure that brings promise of application in deep tissue bio-imaging and drug delivery. The results of this study were published in Advanced Materials in March.

This novel structure was achieved by interacting two types of nanoparticles — upconversion nanoparticles and gold nanoparticles. Upconversion nanoparticles are so-named because of its unique ability to convert light from low-energy to high-energy, and lower the wavelength. They are luminescent, inorganic, and comprise of metal ions.  When near-infrared (NIR) light is shone on upconversion nanoparticles, the resultant light emitted is reduced in wavelength and goes from being invisible to the human eye to visible, giving out light in the colours of the rainbow. Upconversion nanoparticles have various potential applications, including in currency and merchandise to prevent counterfeiting.

This hybrid nanoparticle structure enables DNA strands to be attached to the upconversion nanoparticles and Prof Liu, who is also the 2017 University Awards Outstanding Researcher awardee, sees broader possibilities in screening for cancer markers and bio-imaging. “We can design the particles to selectively bind to cancer cells so then we can differentiate healthy cells and cancer cells by just looking at the luminescence,” he elaborates. 

Another use of the particles is as a site-specific drug delivery system. The DNA strands are able to encapsulate drug molecules to carry them specifically to the cancer cells. When the NIR light laser is shone onto the particles, the light emitted also produces heat; which causes the heat-sensitive DNA strands to open, releasing the drugs into the cancer cells. Thus, the drug can be more precisely injected into specific areas of the body where it is most needed. Such site-specific drug delivery would reduce the amount of dosage of medicine required for treatment, and potentially its cost too.

Other research for bio-imaging and site-specific drug delivery typically use fluorescent organic molecules, which are compounds that contain carbon. These compounds usually need an ultraviolet (UV) light source to cause them to emit light, said Prof Liu. “A beam of UV light is likely to produce hydroxyl radicals that can decompose the materials very quickly, which is why organic molecules are not very photostable. These inorganic particles are very stable and the emission is very consistent. We don’t see photo degradation or photo bleaching, which means the emission is quenched,” he adds.

Another reason for the choice of inorganic nanoparticles is the penetration of the light source. UV light sources can only go up to two millimetres below the surface of the skin, while studies by Prof Liu’s team have showed that NIR light can go up to two centimetres below the skin, giving a greater breadth of possibilities for imaging and drug delivery.

Related Articles Read More >

Engineer inspecting artificial hip joint parts in quality control department in orthopaedic factory
Deburring and finishing for beautiful, functional medical devices
A Medtronic HVAD pump opened up to show the inner workings
FDA designates new Medtronic HVAD pump implant recall as Class I
Dexcom One
How Dexcom’s portfolio goes beyond highly-anticipated next-gen G7
A portrait of Stryker executive Siddarth Satish
How Stryker includes users for product design in the digital age

DeviceTalks Weekly.

June 24, 2022
How innovative design, commercial strategy is building Cala Trio’s bioelectronic medicine market
See More >

MDO Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Subscribe to Medical Design & Outsourcing. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading medical design engineering magazine today.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
DeviceTalks

DeviceTalks is a conversation among medical technology leaders. It's events, podcasts, webinars and one-on-one exchanges of ideas & insights.

DeviceTalks

New MedTech Resource

Medical Tubing

Enewsletter Subscriptions

Enewsletter Subscriptions

MassDevice

Mass Device

The Medical Device Business Journal. MassDevice is the leading medical device news business journal telling the stories of the devices that save lives.

Visit Website
MDO ad
Medical Design and Outsourcing
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • MedTech 100 Index
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World
  • R&D World
  • About Us/Contact
  • Advertise With Us
  • Subscribe to Print Magazine
  • Subscribe to E-newsletter
  • Attend our Monthly Webinars
  • Listen to our Weekly Podcasts
  • Join our DeviceTalks Tuesdays Discussion

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media LLC. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Medical Design & Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • Med Tech Resources
    • DeviceTalks Tuesdays
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • The Big 100
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Video
  • 2022 Leadership in MedTech
    • 2022 Leadership Voting!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
  • Women in Medtech