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 Hoffmann 1 , Venumadhav Korampally 1 , Sherine F. Elsawa 2 , Jason Misurelli 2 Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering 1 , Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 2 , 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 40uL Figure flour Figure three Ctrl 5uL 10uL 20uL