Quantum Dots annealed to

biodegradable apoptosis pellets

to help treat ALL

Ila Langelotti and Brandon Deloach

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The disease
progresses rapidly and creates immature blood cells, rather than mature ones.
Product
Quantum Dots annealed to biodegradable bamboo pellets
containing caspases
 Production Process

1. Colloidal synthesis - Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals are 1. Bamboo nano-pellets are dialyzed
synthesized from solutions, much like traditional chemical processes. with caspases (enzyme triggering
2. Plasma synthesis - Quantum dots synthesized by plasma are usually in apoptosis) to get the caspases into
the form of powder. This can lead to excellent dispersion of quantum dots in
either organic solvents
the pellet
3. Fabrication- Self-assembled quantum dots are typically between 5 and 50 2. Through laser annealing with
nm in size. graphite, the pellet will be bonded
4. Viral assembly- Genetically engineered M13 bacteriophage viruses allow with the quantum dot
preparation of quantum dot biocomposite structures 3. Suspend the quantum dot bead
5. Electrochemical assembly-Highly ordered arrays of quantum dots may annealed to the bamboo pellet into
also be self-assembled by electrochemical techniques
a saline solution.
6. Bulk-manufacture- Quantum dot manufacturing relies on a process
called "high temperature dual injection" which has been scaled by multiple
companies for commercial applications that require large quantities (hundreds
of kilograms to tonnes) of quantum dot.
Delivery Method They are delivered intravenously,
through an IV, with iRGD, a
tumor-penetrating peptide, and
travel through the bloodstream and
into cancer cells.
 How it targets The quantum dots find and attach
the cancer cells to certain cancer signatures. For
A.L.L it detects the CD34+ protein
that is found in A.L.L cells.
How it will be The Saline solution with the tagged
quantum dots will be injected
released through IV. After the quantum dots
move into the cell, the
biodegradable film will disintegrate
and release the interior
After release and
Once the caspases is released into
the cell, it interacts with the

how it destroys organelles and triggers apoptosis,

or programmed cell death.

the cells
 ● Their quite extended lifetime may be a
hindrance to certain applications that
require QDs to biodegrade immediately

Risks
after the experiment has been
performed
● low transmittance may stay
undetectable or may demand
high-sensitivity detection systems.
 ● there are multiple methods to develop
them easily and cost effectively

Benefits
● can be used in various forms, e.g. as
small crystals in liquid solutions, as
quantum dust, and in bead form
● suitable for high sensitivity applications
like fluorescent tagging and live-cell
imaging
Clinical Trial
Use of Quantum Dots annealed to biodegradable apoptosis
pellets to help treat ALL
Trial purposes and objectives
Goals- Treat/cure Acute
Lymphocytic Leukemia with
minimal side effects and faster
more accurate treatment.
Hypothesis- If the treatment
kills only cancer cells and
safely interacts with the body
then it will be better than other
treatments available because
other treatments are
detrimental to the body due to
the killing of healthy cells.
Better than current treatments-
Current- Combination chemotherapy
followed by stem cell transplant.
Monoclonal antibody therapy
(blinatumomab or inotuzumab
ozogamicin) followed by stem cell
transplant
Pros- No side effects from
chemotherapy, including hair loss,
nausea, cell death.
 Nurses will offer patients diagnosed with A.L.L

Selection of that qualify if they wish to participate in the

study.

subjects/
population -
-
Patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia
20-35 year olds
- No other major health problems, including but not
limited to, Hypertension, Major Depression, High
Cholesterol, Coronary Artery Disease, Type 2
Diabetes
- The trial is excluding pregnant women, or women
who plan to become pregnant during the study, in
case of side effects to the fetus.
 ● If needles are not sterile, blood
borne diseases are more likely
to spread

Risks of trial
● The release time of the
caspases is undetermined yet
● If administrator is not skilled to
perform IV, minor epithelial
damage or muscle damage
could occur.
Trial design

● Randomized double blind trial

● Testing group will receive the quantum dot pellet treatment
● Placebo group will receive chemotherapy.
● Independent variable - treatment type
● Dependent variable - reduction in density of cancer
 The safety of the subjects in a clinical trial is shared
between the sponsor, the local site investigators, the
IRBs that supervise and the regulatory agency (FDA)
for the country where the drug or device will be sold to
ensure that all regulations and precautions are met.

Safety If serious side effects start to occur, including but not

limited to, internal bleeding, body system failure,

procedures
abundant healthy cell death, etc., then the participant
must stop the study.
Subjects cannot take other medications that destroy
the natural biodegradable casing.
Trial must be performed by a healthcare professional.
Needles, sanitizer, tubing and saline bag must be
sterile.
Health care professional must wear sterile gloves at
all times and follow safe practices.
Citations
Acute lymphocytic leukemia - Symptoms and causes. (2018, August 10). Retrieved from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acute-lymphocytic-leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369077

Caspase Functions in Cell Death and Disease. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://cshperspectives.cshlp.org/content/5/4/a008656.full

Home - ClinicalTrials.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://clinicaltrials.gov/

The Pros and Cons of Quantum Dots. (2018, November 12). Retrieved from

https://www.brighthubengineering.com/manufacturing-technology/89345-quantum-dots-advantages-and-disadvantages/

Quantum Dot. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/quantum-dot

What Is Cancer? (2015, February 9). Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer