Short Technical Description
The synthesis and properties of nanoparticles in general and more specific magnetic nanoparticles consist an emerging field of nowadays research. Within the research activities in this area magnetic nanoparticles are synthesized and subsequently functionalized with certain and very specific antibodies on their surface. When in a human organism, those antibodies will lead and attach the nanoparticles to certain defective cells that are being therefore magnetically labeled and become MRI detectable. In a subsequent phase the nanoparticles besides diagnostic may also serve therapeutic purposes. Small magnetic fields may locally generate heat that will selectively destroy the defective tumor cells (thermotherapy).
Indicative Applications (Social Driver: Health)
The ultimate purpose of the project is the development of pharmaceutical products that under conventional MRI conditions will provide metastasis information on a level much more sensitive than currently applied techniques. |