Michael J. Sailor talks with
ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions about
this month's Fast Breaking Paper Paper in the field of
Materials Science.
Photo by Erika Kyte Walsh
Article Title: Biodegradable luminescent porous silicon
nanoparticles for in vivo applications
Authors: Park, JH;Gu, L;von Maltzahn, G;Ruoslahti, E;Bhatia,
SN;Sailor, MJ
Journal: NAT MATER, Volume: 8, Issue: 4, Page: 331-336, Year:
APR 2009
* Univ Calif San Diego, Dept Chem & Biochem, La Jolla, CA
92093 USA.
* Univ Calif San Diego, Dept Chem & Biochem, La Jolla, CA
92093 USA. (addresses have been
truncated.)
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
It is the first biodegradable fluorescent (quantum dot) nanoparticle to
safely image tumors and organs in live mice that could be used for cancer
detection and treatment in humans.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper
in layman’s terms?
It is the first intrinsically luminescent nanoparticle that was purposely
designed to minimize toxic side effects. This new design meets a growing
need for non-toxic alternatives that have a chance to make it into the
clinic to treat human patients.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
The goal is to use the nanoparticles to chaperone the drug directly to the
tumor, to release it into the tumor rather than other parts of the body.
Professor Michael J. Sailor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Department of Bioengineering
Department of Nanoengineering
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, CA, USA Web |
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