Harnessing unique magnetic properties we are able to produce new agents for the detection and treatment of diseases.
We investigate the structure-property relationships of non-stoichiometric metal ferrite nanoparticles. By substituting various transition metals in the Fe2+ sites we can study the effect of the dopant on the inherent magnetic properties of the material, such as magnetocrystaline anisotropy. Using a novel extended LaMer synthesis we can vary the size of these particles on the nanometer scale to probe the relationship between size and saturation magnetization, blocking temperature, etc.
Biofunctionalization) Building off the ongoing materials discovery, we functionalize the particles for use in multiple biomedical systems. This includes the use of glycan coated magnetite nanoparticles for strain selective killing of bacteria via magnetically mediated energy delivery, Heparin coated particles for magnetic coating of stents in-vivo to reduce the risk of neointimal hyperplasia, and gadolinium functionalization for the reduction in relaxivity ratio and magnetic FRET.
Small molecule organometallic chelation of paramagnetic elements coupled to macromolecules such as polyethylene glycol, change the way in which the ion effects the MR signal. We couple these large molecules with the smaller chelates to tune for optimal signal generation. Using chelation chemistry we are also looking at ion sensitive contrast agents as a means to visualize traumatic brain injury and quantitatively study optimal recovery time from the typical concussion.