J. Manuel Perez
Nanoparticle Technologies

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Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Nanoscience Technology Ph.D., Boston University, 1998 Phone: 407-882-2843 E-mail: jmperez@mail.ucf.edu NanoScience Webpage: www.nanoscience.ucf.edu/faculty_perez.php View Full Curriculum Vita NCI Career Award Recipient (2003-2008) Instructor in Chemistry, Center for Molecular Imaging Research, MGH-Harvard Medical School, 2003-2005

Research

Research in my laboratory focuses on the development of nanoparticle technologies and their application in nanomedicine, molecular imaging, and molecular diagnostics. My primary interest is the design of novel and target-specific magnetic nanoparticle conjugates with potential imaging and therapeutics applications in cancer and atherosclerosis. These nanoparticles could target specific protein receptors on the surface of cancer cells or vulnerable plague and serve as molecular imaging agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Another areas of current interest is the development of nanoparticle technologies and biosensors to detect molecular markers associated with disease in point-of-care diagnostics applications and for the detection of harmful pathogens and toxins. Specific areas of research interest includes: 1. Development of novel multifunctional nanoagents for diagnostics and treatment of cancer and atherosclerosis. 2. Development of activatable nanoparticles with applications to optical imaging and photodynamic therapy. 3. Development of sensitive and high throughput pathogen and toxin detection using magnetic nanoparticles and NMR/MRI detection. 4. Use of combinatorial libraries to develop novel targeted nanoparticles. 5. Design of new diagnostic methods for telomerase activity and telomere length and other cancer related targets.

Nanoparticle Technologies This research focuses on the development of nanoparticle technologies and their application in nanomedicine, molecular imaging, and molecular diagnostics.

Select Publications

1. Perez, J.M.; Simeone, F.J.; Tsourkas, A.; Josephson, L.; Weissleder, R. Peroxidase substrate nanosensors for MR imaging, NanoLetters 2004, 4, 119-122

2. Grimm, J.; Perez, J.M.; Josephson, L.; Weissleder, R. Novel nanosensor for rapid analysis of telomerase activity, Cancer Res. 2004, 64, 639-643

3. Perez, J.M.; Simeone, F.J.; Saeki, Y.; Josephson, L.; Weissleder, R. Viral-induced self assembly of magnetic nanoparticles allows the detection of viral particles in biological media, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 10192-10193

4. Perez, J.M.; Josephson, L.; O'Loughin, T.; Hogemann, D.; Weissleder, R. Molecular relaxation switches capable of sensing molecular interactions, Nature Biotech. 2002, 20, 816-820

5. Perez, J.M.; O'Loughlin T.; Simeone, F.J.; Weissleder, R.; Josephson, L. DNA-based magnetic nanoparticle assembly acts as magnetic relaxation nanoswitch allowing screening of DNA cleaving agnets, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 2856-2857

6. Josephson, L.; Perez, J.M., Weissleder. Magnetic nanosensors for the detection of oligonucleotide sequences, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2001; 40(17), 3204-3206

7. Perez, J.M.; Wilhem E.J.; Sucholeiki, I. The use of power ultrasound coupled with magnetic separation for the solid phase synthesis of compound libraries, Biorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2000, 10, 171-174

8. Sucholeiki, I.; Perez, J.M. New high loading paramagnetic support for solid phase organic chemistry, Tetrahedron Lett. 1999, 40, 3531-3534

Graduate Students

In my laboratory, graduate students will be exposed to a cutting-edge multidisciplinary experience that will involve chemistry, material sciences, nanotechnology, biochemistry and biomedical research. Upon completing training in my laboratory, the doctoral candidate will be an individual with an excellent knowledge in one of the above areas and a good general knowledge in the others. This combination will result in well-rounded scientist that will be well-equipped to perform independent research in the future.