Aptamer-Mediated And Multifaceted Approach To Detect And Combat Lung Cancer

The desire for moieties that are multifunctional is becoming greater and more of a necessity as nanotechnology becomes synonymous with medicine. Cancer detection and therapy remains a global concern. Many experiments have been promising but have only had modest results in clinical trials. Therefore, researchers continue to look at the forefront of science to divulge suitable platforms to alleviate the negative consequences from cancer. Discussed in this thesis is a multifunctional platform that provides gene therapy, drug delivery, and molecular detection. By combining the promises of nanotechnology, aptamers, and DNA antisense, we present a moiety that can better fight and decipher cancer. Aptamers are single strands of DNA that can be made target specific to certain cell membranes. Their ability to detect molecular differences makes them attractive for delivering nanocargo to specific cells and as a molecular detection platform. In this thesis, the use of aptamers to guide antisense therapy, the cancer drug Doxorubicin, and nanoparticles has been analyzed. Furthermore, the third experiment studied the efficacy of creating a universal aptamer platform for detection through the use of hydrophobic dyes. Unfortunately, the project for the universal aptamer only provided humble results at best. The other two projects showed positive results.There is no denying the potential of antisense therapy for fighting diseases. Recently, epigenetics has received much attention. However, efficient delivery of genetic therapy remains elusive. This project investigates one route of delivering antisense therapy while also offering a targeted approach for delivery. Structurally, a spherical geometry has been shown to provide for an effective delivery of antisense. This project utilizes such a geometry while going a bit further with drug delivery with aptamer-mediated targeting.In addition to genetic therapy and drug delivery, diagnostics and early detection of cancer is critical for successful combat of cancer. MRI is still considered the gold standard for detecting breast and lung cancer. Yet, with current contrast agents, cancer cannot be detected until a significant amount of cell growth has already occurred. With novel nanomaterial, improved relaxivities are obtained, allowing for more sensitive detection. In addition to MRI, modern nanoparticles allow for alternatives forms of detection. For instance, the second project utilizes the upconversion nanoparticle NaGdF4:Yb3+,Er3+, a particle that emulates upconversion properties as magnetic properties that may be monitored simultaneously. Upconversion nanomaterial makes for great biomaterials since they absorb in the long-wavelength spectrum (i.e. infrared and near infrared ("NIR")) while emitting in the short-wavelength spectrum (i.e. visible). This display exhibits anti-Stokes emission. Most fluorescent nanomaterials require excitation in the ultraviolet spectrum, leading to damaged cells for bioapplications. Upconversion nanoparticles have been shown to provide a detection platform that does not hard biological entities with photobleaching.By combining modern nanoparticles, genetic therapy, cancer drugs, and aptamer delivery within one moiety, a system that can better detect and attack cancer has been proposed for the detection and treatment of A549lung cancer cells. The model proposed can be altered with components substituted or deleted in order to provide a tailored system for the targeted cell line.