Gold Nanoparticles for Photothermal Therapy Applications
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most challenging cancer types to both diagnose and treat, with a one-year survival rate of only 20%. Photothermal therapy using gold nanoparticles is one promising avenue for treatment of this cancer. Currently, we are carrying out basic research into the photothermal properties of gold nanoparticles in different surroundings in order to determine the best methodological approach for photothermal therapy in the pancreas.
As a CIMA student, your role will be to carry out experimental measurements of the temperature changes which occur when nanoparticles are irradiated with light under different conditions. You will work with a UTSA graduate student who is carrying out computer simulations to predict the light absorbance of the nanoparticles and the temperature map that they produce. You will compare your experimental data with these predictions and work together to fine-tune the model so that experiment and theory agree.
Requirements
- none
