Dr. Wei Chen was assigned as the American Editor for Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (JNN) and Associate Editor for Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology (JBN) published by American Scientific Publisher. Dr. Chen has edited two special issues for JNN and he is editing one special issue of JBN on Cancer Nanotechnology. |
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Nano-Bio Physics Group Collaborating with Agiltron Inc. on a SBIR Phase-I project “Bulk Composite Materials for Detection of Gamma Radiation” from DOD, HDTRA1-08-P-0034, $100,000. The project aims to design and synthesis nanocomposite materials for radiation detection.
Physics professor researching Nanotechnology to improve photodynamic therapy for breast cancer treatment
http://www.uta.edu/ucomm/mediarelations/press/2008/07/breast-cancer-treatment.php
News Release — 18 July 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Sue Stevens, (817) 272-3317, sstevens@uta.edu
ARLINGTON - A University of Texas at Arlington professor believes photodynamic therapy, which has been used successfully in treating skin cancers, can be an effective treatment for breast cancer. But the potentially life-saving treatment has been thwarted by the difficulty of light penetration into deep tissue. Wei Chen, an assistant professor of physics, thinks he knows how to overcome that obstacle.
With the help of a $109,155 grant from the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, Chen will research a new photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by long-lasting afterglow nanoparticles. He proposes a new PDT system with light generated by afterglow nanoparticles with attached photosensitizers. When the nanoparticle-photosensitizer conjugates are targeted to tumor, the light from afterglow nanoparticles will activate the photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. Therefore, no external light is required for treatment. That means the therapy can be used to treat deep tumors such as breast cancer because the light source is attached to the photosensitizers and is delivered to the tumor cells together.
Chen said the first step is to generate routine synthesis with optimal control of particle characteristics such as afterglow efficiency and longevity. The nanoparticles will be rigorously characterized and then tested for photodynamic activation, to include efficacy and toxicity in vitro cultures of cells.
To learn more about the research, contact Chen at (817) 272-1064.
Accolades
UT Arlington Today — 3 April 2008
Drs. Wei Chen and Ron Schachar were mentioned in a University of Ulster press release concerning research that deals with the treatment of cataracts. They are conducting the research with Professor Barbara Pierschionek of the University of Ulster. Dr. Chen is a UT Arlington assistant professor of physics and a nanotechnologist. Dr. Schachar is an ophthalmologist and physicist. Read the entire press release here.
January 4, 2008 Physics News, UTA
http://www.uta.edu/physics/main/phys_news/news/2008/index.html
Physics Assistant Professor Dr. Wei Chen, approached a lens physiologist [Professor Barbara K Piersionek of the University of Ulster] and an ophthalmologist [Ronald A. Schachar, M.D., Ph.D. of the University of Texas at Arlington] to study the biochemical causes of cataractogensis. They use quantum dots made at Dr. Chen’s lab to investigate the diffusion processes into lens. Their work is interesting as it might uncover the causes of cataractogensis and figure out the channels for drug delivery to cure cataracts. The preliminary results of their research were published in a prestigious Journal NANOTECHNOLOGY http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0957-4484/19/2/025102/ And there are two reports related to their work at Nanowerk and Nanotechweb at links below: http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=3894.php and http://nanotechweb.org/cws/article/lab/32322.
January 4, 2008, Nanowerk News
Nanotechnology treatment for most common cause of blindness becomes feasible
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=3894.php
January 2, 2008, Nanotechweb News
Possible role for nanotechnology in the treatment of cataracts
http://nanotechweb.org/cws/article/lab/32322
Nanoflowers (snow Flakes) generated through nanoparticle self-assembly by Dr. Wei Chen, UTA Department of Physics were used for cover of seasonal greeting cards by College of science, UTA, 2007
Quantum dots made at Dr. Chen’s group are on the cover of Maverick Science, College of science, UTA, Issue of Fall 2007
August 14, 2007, UTA Today
http://www.uta.edu/public-affairs/pressreleases/page.php?id=2129
Professors Awarded National Science Foundation Grant
ARLINGTON—University of Texas at Arlington Assistant Professor of Physics Wei Chen is the principal investigator and Associate Professor Andrew Brandt is the co-principal investigator for a $300,000 three year-grant from the National Science Foundation/Department of Homeland Security Academic Research Initiative. Alan Joly of Pacific Northwestern National Lab is a collaborator.
The investigators will use nano-particles to detect uranium to aid in homeland security. Detecting uranium is a critical concern due its potential for use in nuclear terrorism. Although there have recently been significant improvements in the development of scintillator materials, no current scintillator has the ideal combination of properties.
The researchers plan to develop a novel kind of nanostructure phosphor for radiation detection. They will pursue two avenues for scintillation luminescence enhancement: coating scintillation Nan particles to silver and gold nanoparticles and using periodic surface patterning as in LED enhancement.
The effective combination of the two approaches could yield a multiplicative enhancement factor. This unique approach has noteworthy intellectual merit as improved scintillation devices would have applications in radiation detection and a myriad of other areas.
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