Treating Tumors with Gold

Overview
Resources
Evaluations
Comments

Overview

Description:

"Treating Tumors with Gold" presents promising research being conducted at Rice University in Texas. Through videos and demonstrations, the program considers the following questions: What is a tumor and what causes it to spread? What is a gold nanoshell and how does it kill tumor cells? What does the future hold for targeted cancer therapies?

Objectives

Big Idea:

Certain properties at the nanoscale allow researchers to exploit materials for new targeted cancer therapies.

Learning goals:

Scientists in nanotechnology bridge the gap between disciplines to try and solve research problems.
The size of a material (like gold) determines its properties and its interaction with light.
Gold nanoshells can be fabricated to absorb infrared light and produce heat.
The size of the nanoshell enables it to enter the tumor site.

NISE Net Content Map:

Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.

Scientists and engineers have formed the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology by investigating properties and manipulating matter at the nanoscale.

Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren't possible before.

Nanotechnologies have costs, risks, and benefits that affect our lives in ways we cannot always predict.

Universal design:

Repeat and reinforce main ideas and concepts.

Credits

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

Checklist

Scientist reviewed? check_reviewed

Peer reviewed? check_reviewed

Visitor evaluation? check_reviewed

Nano Topics

Bio and medicine, Materials, tools, and applications

Audience

11 and up

Permissions

Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike

Resources

Download all files (ZIP)

Files:

Treating Tumors with Gold Lesson Plan

Treating Tumors with Gold Presentation

Links:

Blood Simulation Loop

Gold Nanoshell Color Change

Halas Chicken Demo

Lab Chicken Demo 1

Lab Chicken Demo 2

Cartoon Patient Simulation

Treating Tumors with Gold Training Video

See FAQ #10 to learn more about downloading NISE Net video

Video:

Evaluations

Treating Tumors with Gold Formative Evaluation

This report evaluates the program entitled “Treating Tumors with Gold” by looking at visitor feedback in an attempt to assess the success with which the presentation was able to educate the public on a particular study using nanotechnology. Read more

Year 5 Summative Evaluation of Exhibits and Programs

As part of the overall summative evaluation of the first five years of the NISE Network, the Year 5 Exhibits and Programs Study examines the measurable impacts of these public products on museum visitors. Read more

Comments

Science Museum of Minnesota

Submitted by rwall@smm.org on Thu, 08/25/2011 - 13:43.

The Science Museum of Minnesota has a shorter version of this program. The Science Museum's 'hack'is approximately 15 minutes in duration and is meant for large audiences.

Please contact Stephanie Long for more information.

Stephanie Long
slong@smm.org
651-221-2587