Nanoparticles of oxides doped with rare earth ions for theranosticsapplications

Condensed Matter Physics Seminar
lecture of Professor Marek Godlewski
on December 17 2024
Relatively large nanoparticles (NPs), 50 - 100 nm size, of wide
band gap oxides (ZnO, ZrO2, Y2O3, TiO2 and HfO2) activated with rare earth
ions were successfully applied by us for early detection of cancer.
Regarding safety aspects, ZnO and ZrO2 were favored by us for further
studies, due to bio-safety of these materials. These NPs were first used
as fluorescence markers (FMs), then as contrast agents for magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI). The performed studies proved high selectivity of
NPs distribution in the body. An effective trafficking of FMs to the areas
of lung cancer was observed, whereas surrounding tissue was impermeable
for NPs. Recently two new possibilities were demonstrated, allowing use of
NPs for cancer therapy. NPs of ZnO were used as transporting agent,
transporting a given medicine directly to the area of tumor. Moreover, the
same NPs can be used for cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Work done in collaboration with Jarosław Kaszewski and Julita Rosowska
in Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Science
and with
Paula Kiełbik and Michał M. Godlewski
in Department of Physiological Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences