Preliminary evaluation of a nanotechnology-based approach for the more effective diagnosis of colon cancers.

Aim: The goal of this research was to develop and preliminarily test a novel technology and instrumentation that could help to significantly increase the diagnostic yield of current colon cancer screening procedures. This technology is based on a combined fluorescence-optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, and topical delivery of a cancer-targeting agent.

Materials & Methods: Gold colloid-adsorbed poly(ε-caprolactone) microparticles were labeled with a near-infrared dye, and functionalized with argentine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD peptide) to effectively target cancer tissue, and enhance fluorescence-imaging contrast.

Electron attachment to Ni(PF(3))(4) and Pt(PF(3))(4).

An experimental study has been made of thermal electron attachment to the transition-metal trifluorophosphine complexes Ni(PF(3))(4) and Pt(PF(3))(4) using a flowing-afterglow Langmuir-probe apparatus. Both complexes are efficient at electron attachment, although the rate constants are somewhat less than collisional. The rate constant for electron attachment to Ni(PF(3))(4) is 1.

Electron attachment to MoF6, ReF6, and WF6; reaction of MoF6(-) with ReF6 and reaction of Ar+ with MoF6.

Rate constants were measured for electron attachment to MoF(6), ReF(6), and WF(6) in 133 Pa of helium gas using a flowing-afterglow Langmuir-probe apparatus. The experiment is a thorny one because the molecules tend to form oxide impurities on feedline surfaces and because of thermal decomposition of MoF(6) on surfaces as the gas temperature is increased. The electron attachment rate constant for MoF(6) is (2.