Stimuli-responsive magneto-plasmonic nanocarrier – IP 1657

Nanomedicine, which is based on administration of nanomaterials to prevent, diagnose,and/or treat diseases, has attracted attention for a few decades. Recent progress innanotechnology facilitated biomedical applications of nanomaterials such as, drug carriers. Currently-available nanocarriers are capable of releasing therapeutic agents whensubjected to external stimulation following targeted delivery to a treatment area of interest.However, many of these existing nanocarriers, in addition to requiring complexed formulation,are not applicable to a number of regions that are particularly sensitive to external stimuli suchas, for example, heat. Furthermore, regions such as the brain possess cellular tight junctions thatcould limit the transmigration of nanocarriers to the targeted treatment area. As a result, thereremains a need for nanocarriers that can be delivered in a targeted manner while accommodatingvarious drug release mechanisms. FIU inventors havesynthesized nanocarriers possessing novel features withoutcomplexed formulations due to their magnetic and plasmonic properties. Theirfeatures include enhanced targeting efficiency of therapeutic agents bymagnetic targeting, monitoring of the nanocarrier using multiple imagingsystems including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic particle imaging(MPI), X-ray computed tomography (CT), photoacoustic imaging, and ramanmicroscopy, and on demand release of therapeutic agents using various externalstimuli such as pH, temperature, alternating magnetic field, and nearinfrared (NIR) light. Anne Laure Schmitt Olivier aschmitt@fiu.edu 305-348-5948