Betancourt, TaniaRoe, Lillian2022-03-022022-03-022021-12Roe, L. N. (2021). Functionalization of PEDOT nanoparticles for targeted delivery to cancer cells (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.https://hdl.handle.net/10877/15434Nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy uses nanoparticles as photothermal agents to harness light energy and convert it to thermal energy to locally heat and damage or kill cancer cells. Previous studies in our research group have shown that poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanoparticles (PEDOT NPs) are effective photothermal agents and have the ability to mediate cancer cell death upon irradiation with a near-infrared laser. In order to make cancer treatment with PEDOT NPs more effective and selective, functionalization of the NPs is needed to ensure targeted binding to cancer cell receptors. In this work, we evaluate different methods of PEDOT NP functionalization with aptamers. The aim of this research is to develop a versatile functionalization method that can be used to attach many different targeting molecules to PEDOT NPs.Text44 pages1 file (.pdf)enphotothermal therapyconductive polymersnanoparticlesnanomedicinesnear infraredcancer treatmentHonors College