1. Figure Legend
Figure one: Two samples of NPs imaged with flash
photography.
Figure two: NPs after being centrifuged during the
recovery process
Figure three: A histogram comparing NP fluorescence
and concentration of NPs
Figure four: A histogram comparing NP fluorescence
and absorption time
Analysis Cont.
• Increased absorption time increases fluorescence
Methods Cont.
• Centrifuge
• Add ammonium hydroxide to return charge
• Grow 24 wells of Panc-1 cancer cells
• Pass cells to continue growth
• Add different concentrations of NPs to the wells
• Run timed additions of NPs
Acknowledgments
Nicole Hoffmann1, Venumadhav Korampally1, Sherine F. Elsawa2, Jason Misurelli2
Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering1, Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences2, Northern Illinois University
Kinetics of nanoparticles delivery to pancreatic cancer cells
Discussion
• Couple NPs with something toxic to pancreatic
cancer cells as a possible cancer treatment
• See if attaching different compounds to the NPs
enhances the delivery
• Compute NP retention in cells
• Calculate number of dyes per particle
• Analyze lifetime of NPs at Argonne National
Laboratory
Background
• Particle center filled with fluorescent dye.
• Hydrophobic core
• Hydrophilic shell
• Pancreatic cancer as a model
• Florescent NPs can be traced in cells
Abstract
This project will be undertaken with Dr. Venumadhav
Korampally from the Electrical Engineering department
and Dr. Sherine Elsawa from the Biology department. It
will be centered on the creation of nanoparticles and
their rate of absorption into cells. The fluorescent
nanoparticles (NPs) have a hydrophobic core and a
hydrophilic shell. This design allows for even dispersion
in aqueous solutions with minimal dye leakage. Part of
this research process is optimizing the NP stability to
prevent clumping of particles. When subjected to light,
the electrons jump to an excited state and emit different
wavelengths of light based on the dye. This light can
allow for detection of the NPs in biological applications;
having different colored dyes allows for more options.
These NPs will be tested with pancreatic cancer cells to
determine the kinetics of NP entry into cells and their
bio-distribution. They will also be tested over a 24 hour
period to determine how quickly the NPs enter cells and
if they remain inside cells (by determining if the cells
lose any fluorescence). Ultimately, the goal of NP
research is to attach NPs to specific
molecules/therapies that can help target cancer cells or
better boost the immune system in a noninvasive way.
Methods
• Create cores using PMSSQ, rhodamine chloride
dye, and PPG
Age 25 days
• Create shells using ammonium hydroxide
Age 25 days
• Add hydrochloric acid to remove charge
Engineering Results
• 80 mg of dye is effectively encased in the particles
• Different concentrations of dye are being tested to
find the optimal amount
• Low concentrations of dye have already proven
unsuccessful and quickly coagulate
• NPs created remain evenly dispersed throughout the
solution
McKearn Fellows
Program
OSEEL
NIU
Biological Results
• Confirmed the hypothesis that increased quantities of
NPs increases the fluorescence
• Work will be done to pinpoint the time necessary for
NP absorption
• Decreasing the amount of time wasted
• Optimize productivity and increase quantity of
experiments
Figure two
Figure one
Analysis
• Increased NP concentration increases fluorescence
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