Particles can be engineered with nanometer-size which are only 1/1,000 the width of a single human hair. These nanoparticles possess versatility in cancer treatment. In particular, nanoparticles made of gold equipped with a specific biomarker can actively find cancer cells following intravenous injection. Upon arriving at tumor site, these particles can serve as light absorbing materials, which heat up and burn the tumor upon laser light shining. In addition, the gold nanoparticles can act as vehicles to get the cancer cells to take the chemotherapy "bait". In this project, we will use chemical engineering tools to develop such kind of nanotechnology enabling to “cook” and “poison” refractory cancer cells in small rodent model. We expect this "two-punch" approach delivered in one single setting will provide a synergic effect in the cancer therapy.

*This research project involves the use of animals.