<b>Biophysics Seminar</b><br><i>Engineering Molecular Imaging Probes for Nanomedicine</i>

Speaker: Gang Bao (Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University)

The integration of nanotechnology, biochemistry and biology is expected to produce major breakthroughs in medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Due to the size-compatibility with proteins and nucleic acids, nano-scale structures and devices provide unprecedented opportunities for achieving a better control of biological processes, and drastic improvements in disease detection, therapy, and prevention. In this talk I will present the development of molecular imaging probes in my lab, including molecular beacons, quantum-dot fluorescent protein FRET probes and magnetic nanoparticle based contrast agents for molecular imaging in living cells and animals. Examples will be given to illustrate the potential application of nanotechnology to disease studies, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and sickle cell disease.