MEMS Seminar: Nanoparticle Heating: A Matter of Life and Death?!

Gold and iron oxide nanoparticles have unique and tunable properties that allow transduction of optical (light), or radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields to affect heating of biomaterials at multiple scales. This talk will explore the underlying physics and relative advantages of each form of nanoparticle heating for therapeutic treatment of cancer or other disease by heating (i.e. magnetic hyperthermia or photothermal cancer therapy). In addition, this same heating helps improve regenerative medicine by "nanowarming" vitrified (i.e. cryopreserved) biomaterials back to a transplantable state through rapid and uniform warming that avoids crystallization and cracking. This nanoparticle warming addresses an important technology bottleneck for both large systems (i.e. tissues and organs) and smaller systems (i.e. embryos and oocytes). In summary, this talk demonstrates the growing opportunities for nanoparticle heating in biomedical applications.

Bischof works in the area of thermal bioengineering with a focus on biopreservation, thermal therapy and nanomedicine. Bischof is now a Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Departments of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, the inaugural Carl and Janet Kuhrmeyer Chair in Mechanical Engineering and the Interim Director of the Institute for Engineering in Medicine at the University of Minnesota.

Lunch will be served at 11:30 am.