PRECLINICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CARBON NANOTUBE MEDIATED THERMAL THERAPY FOR TREATMENT OF GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME: DETERMINING THE EFFECTS OF NANOMATERIAL PROPERTIES, DOSE, AND IRRADIATION PARAMETERS ON THE EFFICACY AND POTENTIAL NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS OF TREATMENT

Glioblastoma is the most common and most lethal primary brain tumor with a five year overall survival of approximately 5 % and only half of patients living approximately 15 months after initial diagnosis. Currently in the clinic, physicians are using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) to treat such tumors. Previous studies, including my own, have shown the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in combination with laser energy increases the rate to heat deposition, achieving much higher temperatures at a much quicker rate, ultimately leading to improved efficacy. The success of this combination therapy, called Carbon Nanotube Mediated Thermal Therapy (CNMTT), is dependent upon the development of carbon nanotubes that can effectively be delivered throughout the tumor site while still maintaining the ability to generate heat upon exposure to laser energy. Additionally, the CNTs used in this therapy must be minimally toxic to normal surrounding tissue.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Eldridge, Brittany

• Ablation

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/82211

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/82211