The Henry Samueli School of Engineering | UC Irvine

Nanomaterial probes for molecular profiling

Nanomaterial probes for molecular profiling

Inorganic nanocrystals composed of superparamagnetic iron oxide, luminescent materials (semiconductor quantum dots, lanthanide-doped unconversion nanoparticles), and plasmonic gold display unique physical properties that can be harnessed for molecular detection purposes. The powerful signals emanating from these nanomaterials offer advantages over traditional molecular probes in terms of signal sensitivity, stability, and/or multiplexing capability. Molecular information is relayed by attaching the nanomaterial to a specific molecular determinant. We are developing novel approaches to amplify, activate, and multiplex nanomaterial signals after binding to their intended targets.

Our work is focused on direct analysis of molecules that are present within biological samples, without amplification of the target. This approach is faster, more quantitative, and allows spatial mapping so that expression heterogeneity can be assessed and rare types can be identified. Furthermore, there is currently no method to amplify protein targets. While diseases such as cancer arise from genetic mutations, proteins are the working unit of the cell. Thus only protein measurements provide direct information about cell behavior, activation state, growth, and potential drug sensitivity.