IGERT Nanomedicine Seminar Series

Date: 11/04/2011
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Location: 130 Dodge Hall
Speaker: Dr. Tyrone Porter, Assistant Professor, Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering and Associate Director, Center for Nanoscience and Nanobiotechnology, Boston University

Title: Acoustic stimulation of nanoparticles for image-guided therapeutic applications

Abstract: Many nanoparticles used for the treatment of diseases are designed to respond to a biochemical or thermodynamic stimulus. A thermodynamic stimulus can be defined as a change in pressure and temperature locally within tissue, which can be achieved with an externally-applied energy source, such as ultrasound. In this talk, I will describe two types of nanoparticles that respond to changes in temperature or pressure facilitated by externally-applied focused ultrasound and monitored with imaging modalities. First, polymer-modified temperature-sensitive liposomes have been developed for localized delivery of chemotherapy. Focused ultrasound can be used to heat the liposomes that have accumulated in solid tumors and trigger the release of encapsulated drugs. MR thermometry can be used to monitor the temperature elevation spatially, thus allowing for feedback control of the acoustic parameters, thus ensuring that the threshold temperature for drug release is exceeded. Second, we have developed pressure-sensitive nanoemulsions with a liquid perfluorocarbon core that can be vaporized with focused ultrasound. Perfluorocarbon bubbles formed via vaporization can enhance tissue absorption of ultrasound, and thus accelerate ultrasound-mediated ablation. Additionally, diagnostic ultrasound combined with MR thermometry can be used to monitor for nanoemulsion vaporization, bubble activity, and temperature elevation. New innovations for targeted imaging and localized therapy based upon the current research will be discussed.

Bio: Tyrone Porter is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. Additionally, he is the Associate Director for the Center for Nanoscience and Nanobiotechnolgoy. Dr. Porter completed his graduate work in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Washington in 2003. He was awarded the Frederick V. Hunt Postdoctoral Fellowship and the R. Bruce Lindsay award from the Acoustical Society of America in 2003 and 2008, respectively. His research interests exist at the intersection between biomedical ultrasound, chemistry, biophysics, and nanomedicine. He is leading several projects focused on the development of stimuli-responsive colloids for molecular imaging of inflammation and atherosclerosis and localized therapy of cancer.