Biomedical Optics & Nanodiagnostics (BOND) Laboratory
We strive to advance nanotechnology, molecular imaging and biophotonics for the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
We are developing:
- Methodology and devices for in vivo imaging and spectroscopy with optical contrast
- Smart biophotonic probes for molecular imaging
- Diagnostic assays for efficient capture, detection and analysis of rare cells in the body
- Engineered cells for theranostic applications
Research Highlights
Current Research Projects
The Center for Innovation and Translation of Point-of-Care Technologies for Equitable Cancer Care (CITEC) (NIH/NIBIB)
The overall goal of this project is to establish the Center for Innovation and Translation of Point-of-Care (POC) Technologies for Equitable Cancer Care (CITEC) to identify high-priority clinical needs for POC cancer technologies; to accelerate development of effective, affordable technologies to meet these needs; to evaluate and improve the clinical and public health impact of POC technologies in diverse settings; and to train developers and users to create and disseminate more equitable POC technologies.
Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI for imaging NK cell therapy of lung metastasis (NIH/NCI)
Radiosensitization of thyroid cancer by cancer cell specific reduction of gold ions (NIH/NCI)
The overall goal of this project is to deliver gold ions to cancer cells as a precursor for in situ cancer specific synthesis of gold nanoclusters that can radiosensitized therapy resistant cancer cells to radiation leading to greatly improved treatment outcomes.
Neoadjuvant treatment response monitoring of breast cancer with molecular photoacoustic imaging (Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT))
The overall goal of this project is to develop a new platform for quantitative molecular and functional imaging with high spatial resolution for monitoring in a neoadjuvant setting (NAC) that can eventually be translated into a clinical study.
In situ cancer cell specific biomineralization to overcome nanoparticle delivery barriers and sensitize pancreatic cancer to radiotherapy (NIH/NCI)
The overall goal of this project is to complete comprehensive mechanistic studies to evaluate and to optimize in situ gold biomineralization for efficient radiosensitization of pancreatic cancer to radiation therapy.
Development of fluorinated dyes for deeper tissue photoacoustic imaging with phase changing nanodroplets (NIH/NIBIB)
The overall goal of this project is to to address weaknesses of the prior research by developing fluorinated dyes with absorbance in the first and second near-infrared tissue windows (NIR-I and NIR-II). Our hypothesis is that the fluorinated dyes will be soluble inside the PFC core, thus resulting in highly reproducible, stable LAND formulations with greatly improved laser activation efficacy.
Molecular photoacoustic imaging for diagnostics and therapy monitoring (NIH/NIBIB)
The goal of this project is to deliver a new capability for quantitative molecular imaging that will combine high sensitivity with greatly improved spatial resolution for preclinical cancer research.
Interdisciplinary translational pre/postdoctoral program in cancer nanotechnology (NIH/NCI)
The overall goal of this project is to develop a novel training program to prepare Ph.D. scientists who will transfer the many promises of cancer nanotechnology into the clinical reality of the future.