Selectively targeted nanothermal radiation differs from traditional cancer treatment in two main ways: by targeting specific cancer cells, and localizing treatment. This research focused on the ability to selectively target cancer cells (and cancer stem cells) by targeting the cancer with an aptamer/gold nanorod conjugate. This nano-bio molecule emits heat when excited by a harmless near infrared laser and kills cancer cells, allowing for a selective and targeted treatment. My research showed that selective targeting and killing of aptamer conjugated gold nanorods was possible to kill Glioblastoma cancer cells.

The objective of this research was to detect malignant human breast cancer cells using Fluorescent Silica Nanoparticles (FSNPs) conjugated with RGD peptide that exhibits high affinity toward integrin receptors on cancer cells. The fluorescent silica nanoparticles (FSNPs) were synthesized by the Stφber method via controlled hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) in a water/oil microemulsion in the presence of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS), fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC), and 3-(Trihydroxylsilyl)propylmethylphosphonate (THPMP). The FSNPs (70 nm in diameter) were checked for quality via TEM and fluorescence microscopy (515 nm), and confirmed to be consistent in shape and size. For tumor targeting, the FSNPs were conjugated to cyclo(Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Tyr-Cys) peptide (RGD) with the use of 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (SPDP) in DMSO. Both peptide-FSNP conjugates and FSNPs were added to MCF7 (benign breast cancer cells), MDA-MB 435 (transformed human breast cells), and MDA-MB 231 (metastasized breast cells) and after 2 hrs subjected to fluorescence microscopy. The FSNP-RGD peptide conjugates selectively got attached to the high concentration of integrins expressed on the surface of the cancer cells. In the case of the normal cells, the expression of integrin was low and hence such cells showed very few FSNPs on the cell surface. The results confirm that FSNP-RGD conjugates are excellent imaging tools for cancer detection. Since silica nanoparticles are inexpensive, readily synthesized, and relatively non-toxic, they afford a convenient method to identify malignant sights in cellular matrices.