Fluorescent Nanoparticle Polymer Detects Inflammation

Nanomarticle polymers have been created that are capable of detecting and imaging trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide in the body. The nanoparticles penetrate deep tissue and operate at a high wavelength, making them sensitive indicators of the presence of hydrogen peroxide produced by any sort of inflammation.

Hydrogen peroxide is thought to be over-produced by cells at the early stages of most diseases. Because there were previously no imaging techniques available to capture this process in the body, the details of how the hydrogen peroxide is produced and its role in a developing disease must still be determined.

The nanoparticle polymer, which was created by scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA, USA) and Emory University (Atlanta, GA, USA), is made of peroxalate esters. A fluorescent dye (pentacene) is encapsulated into the polymer; when the nanoparticles bump into hydrogen peroxide, they excite the dye, which then emits photons (or light) that can be detected in a simple, photon-counting scan.

These nanoparticles are incredibly sensitive so you can detect nanomolar concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. That [is] important because researchers aren't yet certain what amounts of hydrogen peroxide are present in various diseases, said Dr. Niren Murthy, from the department of biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University.

Thought to be completely nontoxic, the nanoparticles could be used as a simple, all-purpose diagnostic tool to detect the earliest stages of any disease that involves chronic inflammation--everything from cancer and Alzheimer's to heart disease and arthritis.

Because there were previously no imaging techniques available to capture this process in the body, the details of how the hydrogen peroxide is produced and its role in a developing disease must still be determined.

For diagnosing medical conditions, the nanoparticles would be injected by needle into a certain area of the body (for instance, the heart). If the nanoparticles encounter hydrogen peroxide, they then would emit light. Should a clinician see a significant amount of light activity in the area, he or she would know that the patient might be presenting the early signs of a disease.


Related Links:
Georgia Institute of Technology
Emory University