"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
- 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.
- 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—and their costs, utility, risks, and benefits—are closely interconnected with society and with our values.
Resources
Credits
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