Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles are exciting candidates for high-precision cancer imaging due to their highly specific spectral signature (Raman “fingerprint”) and propensity for passive targeting of cancerous tissues. However, the signal intensity of currently available SERS nanoparticles is insufficient for cancer imaging via passive targeting in most solid tumors. The overarching aim of this body of work is to develop a new generation of SERS nanoparticles with sufficiently low limits of detection to enable robust detection of various solid tumors in vivo.
The complexity of SERS nanoparticles requires significant advances to the theoretical and experimental understanding of metal nanoparticle syntheses and the methods of their encapsulation if optimized constructs are to be achieved. In particular, the requirement that the Raman-active molecules adsorb to the metal nanoparticle for maximum surface enhancement necessitates nucleation, growth and encapsulation methods that maximize the potential for metal-molecule binding. This poses a substantial roadblock to overcoming the current limitations of SERS nanoparticle intensity, because metal nanoparticle syntheses rely upon surface-passivating surfactants or polymers to enable morphological control. Moreover, metal nanoparticles typically require priming of their surface with silicate or polymer layers to ensure successful encapsulation under high ionic strength (e.g., from the presence of Raman-active molecules and counterions). These challenges make the optimization of SERS nanoparticles a case study in the theoretical and experimental frontiers of nanoparticle engineering.
","abstract_html":"<p>Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles are exciting candidates for high-precision cancer imaging due to their highly specific spectral signature (Raman “fingerprint”) and propensity for passive targeting of cancerous tissues. However, the signal intensity of currently available SERS nanoparticles is insufficient for cancer imaging via passive targeting in most solid tumors. The overarching aim of this body of work is to develop a new generation of SERS nanoparticles with sufficiently low limits of detection to enable robust detection of various solid tumors <em>in vivo</em>.</p> <p>The complexity of SERS nanoparticles requires significant advances to the theoretical and experimental understanding of metal nanoparticle syntheses and the methods of their encapsulation if optimized constructs are to be achieved. In particular, the requirement that the Raman-active molecules adsorb to the metal nanoparticle for maximum surface enhancement necessitates nucleation, growth and encapsulation methods that maximize the potential for metal-molecule binding. This poses a substantial roadblock to overcoming the current limitations of SERS nanoparticle intensity, because metal nanoparticle syntheses rely upon surface-passivating surfactants or polymers to enable morphological control. Moreover, metal nanoparticles typically require priming of their surface with silicate or polymer layers to ensure successful encapsulation under high ionic strength (e.g., from the presence of Raman-active molecules and counterions). These challenges make the optimization of SERS nanoparticles a case study in the theoretical and experimental frontiers of nanoparticle engineering.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Wall, Matthew A"],"institution":"The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":"Chemistry","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Charles Michael Drain","Moritz F. Kircher"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["John Lombardi","Stephen O'Brien","Jason Lewis"],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016-02-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2016-02-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:59:21Z","subjects":["Chemistry","Materials Chemistry","Nanotechnology","Radiochemistry","Nucleation Theory","Crystal Growth","Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering","Gold","Silica","Cancer Imaging"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/778","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Charles Michael Drain","Moritz F. Kircher"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["John Lombardi","Stephen O'Brien","Jason Lewis"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Wall, Matthew A"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2017-01-27T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Chemistry"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Chemistry","Materials Chemistry","Nanotechnology","Radiochemistry","Nucleation Theory","Crystal Growth","Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering","Gold","Silica","Cancer Imaging"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/778"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles are exciting candidates for high-precision cancer imaging due to their highly specific spectral signature (Raman “fingerprint”) and propensity for passive targeting of cancerous tissues. However, the signal intensity of currently available SERS nanoparticles is insufficient for cancer imaging via passive targeting in most solid tumors. The overarching aim of this body of work is to develop a new generation of SERS nanoparticles with sufficiently low limits of detection to enable robust detection of various solid tumors in vivo.
The complexity of SERS nanoparticles requires significant advances to the theoretical and experimental understanding of metal nanoparticle syntheses and the methods of their encapsulation if optimized constructs are to be achieved. In particular, the requirement that the Raman-active molecules adsorb to the metal nanoparticle for maximum surface enhancement necessitates nucleation, growth and encapsulation methods that maximize the potential for metal-molecule binding. This poses a substantial roadblock to overcoming the current limitations of SERS nanoparticle intensity, because metal nanoparticle syntheses rely upon surface-passivating surfactants or polymers to enable morphological control. Moreover, metal nanoparticles typically require priming of their surface with silicate or polymer layers to ensure successful encapsulation under high ionic strength (e.g., from the presence of Raman-active molecules and counterions). These challenges make the optimization of SERS nanoparticles a case study in the theoretical and experimental frontiers of nanoparticle engineering.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Design Rules for the Nucleation, Growth, and Encapsulation of Gold Nanoparticles with Applications to Cancer Imaging"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Charles Michael Drain","Moritz F. Kircher"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["John Lombardi","Stephen O'Brien","Jason Lewis"],"dc:creator":["Wall, Matthew A"],"dc:date.available":["2017-01-27T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles are exciting candidates for high-precision cancer imaging due to their highly specific spectral signature (Raman “fingerprint”) and propensity for passive targeting of cancerous tissues. However, the signal intensity of currently available SERS nanoparticles is insufficient for cancer imaging via passive targeting in most solid tumors. The overarching aim of this body of work is to develop a new generation of SERS nanoparticles with sufficiently low limits of detection to enable robust detection of various solid tumors in vivo.
The complexity of SERS nanoparticles requires significant advances to the theoretical and experimental understanding of metal nanoparticle syntheses and the methods of their encapsulation if optimized constructs are to be achieved. In particular, the requirement that the Raman-active molecules adsorb to the metal nanoparticle for maximum surface enhancement necessitates nucleation, growth and encapsulation methods that maximize the potential for metal-molecule binding. This poses a substantial roadblock to overcoming the current limitations of SERS nanoparticle intensity, because metal nanoparticle syntheses rely upon surface-passivating surfactants or polymers to enable morphological control. Moreover, metal nanoparticles typically require priming of their surface with silicate or polymer layers to ensure successful encapsulation under high ionic strength (e.g., from the presence of Raman-active molecules and counterions). These challenges make the optimization of SERS nanoparticles a case study in the theoretical and experimental frontiers of nanoparticle engineering.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/778"],"dc:subject":["Chemistry","Materials Chemistry","Nanotechnology","Radiochemistry","Nucleation Theory","Crystal Growth","Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering","Gold","Silica","Cancer Imaging"],"dc:title":["Design Rules for the Nucleation, Growth, and Encapsulation of Gold Nanoparticles with Applications to Cancer Imaging"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Chemistry"],"thesis:degree_level":["Doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"thesis:institution_name":["The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:59:21Z"}