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Research

Laboratory Director

Paul C. Wang, Ph.D. [pwang@howard.edu]
Director
Molecular Imaging Laboratory
Professor, Department of Radiology
Adjunct Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Howard University, College of Medicine

Research Statement

The Molecular Imaging Laboratory research focuses on in vivo imaging using MRI, and optical fluorescent and bioluminescent imaging. Particularly, we are interested using the molecular imaging techniques in studying: mechanisms of image contrast enhancement, improvement of sensitivity and specificity of tumor detection, and applications of diagnostics using small diseased animal models.

Research Focus Areas

Imaging of Small Animals
  • Tumor Models (breast, prostate, melanoma, head and neck cancers)
  • Anatomical and functional Imaging (Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease)
Pharmacological Applications
  • Drug Development, Translational Studies (muscle dystrophy, Schizophrenia)
  • In vivo Drug Metabolism (pharmacokinetics, multidrug interaction in CNS)
Nanomedicine
  • Development of Nanoparticles (therapeutic / diagnostic agents, targeted drug delivery)
  • Safety and Toxicity of nanoparticle usage
Neuroscience Imaging
  • Disorders of Mental Health (nicotine addiction, neurochemical anatomy)
  • Central/ Peripheral Nervous System (synaptic interaction of brain circuits and ganglia within the heart)
Ex vivo Cell Imaging
  • Endocytosis of nanoparticles on intact Cells (mechanism of targeting)
  • Elucidation of Metabolic Pathways (molecular imaging)

Research Projects

  • Study the physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles as MR contrast agent delivery system with the dynamic contrast enhancement pattern for clinical applications, Dr. Paul Wang, Dr. Alexandru Korotcov, Department of Radiology, Howard University College of Medicine, Dr. Zaver Bhujwalla, Dr. Dmitri Artemov, Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
  • Development of multifunctional nanoparticles for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment using anti-VEGFR-2 immunotoxin as dual purpose ligand and chemotherapeutics as encapsulated payload, Dr. Paul Wang, Dr. Hemant Sarin, Department of Radiology, Howard University College of Medicine, Dr. Zaver Bhujwalla, Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
  • Optical Imaging of Prostate Tumors in Living Animals using Glucosamine Linked Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probes, Dr. Alexandru Korotcov, Dr. Yunpeng Ye, Dr. Paul Wang, Department of Radiology, Howard University College of Medicine.
  • Anti-PSMA bivalent single-chain Fv fold-back format immunotoxin for prostate cancer imaging and therapy, Dr. Paul Wang, Dr. Liang Shan, Dr. Fayun Zhang, Department of Radiology, Howard University College of Medicine.
  • Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel RGD peptide conjugates for Tumor Optical Imaging, Dr. Yunpeng Ye, Dr. Paul Wang Department of Radiology, Howard University College of Medicine.
  • Surface Coating and Bioconjugation of Quantum Dots for Non-invasive Detection of Breast Cancer, Dr. Tongxin Wang, Dr. Liang Shan, Dr. Alexandru Korotcov, Dr. Paul Wang, Department of Radiology; Dr. Yanfei Zhou, Dr. Rajagopalan Sridhar, Department of Radiation Oncology
  • Tumor characterization and image registration in small animal imaging using MRI and fluorescent imaging, Dr. Jianchao Zeng, Dr. Furia Thomas, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Howard University College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Sciences.
  • Imaging the effects of macrophage function on tumor progression, Dr. Theodore Bremner, Department of Biology, Howard University.
  • Salvia miltiorrhiza BGE as a new chemopreventive agent for oral cancer, Dr. Xinbin Gu, Dr. Xiaowu Pang, Department of Diagnostic Services, Howard University College of Dentistry, Dr. Eric Walters, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Howard University College of Medicine.
  • Oxidative Stress in the development and progression of prostate cancer, Dr. Rajagopalan Sridhar, Dr. Yanfei Zhou, Department of Radiation Oncology, Howard University College of Medicine, Dr. Xinbin Gu, Department of Diagnostic Services, Howard University College of Dentistry.
  • Biomedical imaging and molecular structural studies – In vivo NMR spectroscopy for noninvasive pharmacokinetics, Drs. Rajagopalan Sridhar, andYanfei Zhou, Department of Radiation Oncology, Howard University College of Medicine.
  • Applications of molecular imaging in mucin-based early diagnosis and therapy for head and neck cancer, Drs. Xinbin Gu, Xiaowu Pang, Department of Diagnostic Services, Howard University College of Dentistry, Drs. Paul Wang, Liang Shan, Department of Radiology, Howard University College of Medicine, Dr. Wayne Frederick, Department of Surgery, Howard University College of Medicine.
  • Visualizing Interactions of Human Glioblastoma Stem Cells with Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes through Brain Imaging, Dr. Xingjie Liang, Dr. Alexandru Korotcov, Department of Radiology
  • Use of MRI to Assess Efficacy of Drugs That Improve Skeletal Muscle Function in Muscular Dystrophy Mouse Models, Dr. Kanneboyina Nagaraju, Dr. Alfredo Daniel Guerron, and Dr. Eric Hoffman, Children’s National Medical Center; Dr. Alexandru Korotcov, Dr. Paul Wang, Department of Radiology

Selected publications

  • McDonald MA, Wang PC, Siegel EL. Protein Nanospheres: Synergistic Nanoplatform-Based Probes for Multimodality Imaging, Proc. of SPIE (7910)79101G-1-17, 2011. [pdf]
  • Wang TX, Sridhar R, Korotcov A, Ting AH, Francis K, Mitchell J, Wang PC. Synthesis of amphiphilic triblock copolymers as multidentate ligands for biocompatible coating of quantum dots. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects 375: 147–155, 2011, NIHMS262136 [pdf]
  • Guo ST, Huang YY, Wei T, Zhang WD, Wang WW, Lin DS, Zhang X, Kumar A, Du Q, Xing JF, Deng LD, Liang ZC, Wang PC, Dong AJ, Liang XJ. Amphiphilic and biodegradable methoxy polyethylene glycol-block-(polycaprolactone-graft-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)) as an effective gene carrier. Biomaterials. 32(3):879-89. 2011. PMID 20970186 [pdf]
  • Meng J, Wang DL, Wang PC, Lee J, Chen CY, Liang XJ. Biomedical Activities of Endohedral Metallofullerene Optimized for Nanopharmaceutics. J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 10(12):8610-6, 2010, PMID: 21121373 [pdf]
  • Guo ST, Huang YY, Jiang Q, Sun Y, Deng LD, Liang ZC,  Du Q, Xing JF, Zhao YL, Wang PC, Dong AJ, Liang XJ. Enhanced Gene Delivery and siRNA Silencing by Gold Nanoparticles Coated with Charge-Reversal Polyelectrolyte. ACS Nano 4(9):5505-5511, 201., PMID: 20707386 [pdf]
  • Ma H, Wang PC, Qian F, Liang XJ. Biological Effects of  Nanomaterials and Drugs Measured by Small Animal SPECT/CT Imaging System In Vivo. ACTA Biophysica Sinica 26(8):209-215, 2010. [pdf]
  • Korotcov A, Shan L, Meng H, Wang TX, Sridhar R, Zhao YL, Liang XJ, Wang PC. A Nanocomplex System as Targeted Contrast Agent Delivery Vehicle for MRI Dynamic Contrast Enhancement Study, Journal of Nanoscience Nanotechnology, 10(11), pp 7113-7116, 2010 [pdf]
  • Liang XJ, Meng H, Wang Y, He H, Meng J, Lu J, Wang PC, Zhao Y, Gao X, Sun B, Chen C, Xing G, Shen D, Gottesman MM, Wu Y, Yin JJ, Jia L. Metallofullerene nanoparticles circumvent tumor resistance to cisplatin by reactivating endocytosis, Proc Natl Acad Sci 10716:7449-7454, 2010 [pdf]
  • Liang XJ, Chen C, Zhao YL, Wang PC. Circumventing Tumor Resistance to Chemotherapy by Nanotechnology. Multi-Drug Resistance in Cancer, Methods in Molecular Biology vol 596:467-488, 2010 [pdf]
  • Wang PC, Blumenthal RP, Zhao YL, Schneider JA, Miller N, Grodzinski P, Gottesman MM, Tinkle S, Wang K, Wang C, Liang XJ. Building Scientific Progress Without Borders: Nanobiology and Nanomedicine in China and the U.S. Cancer Research, Cancer Research 69(13);5294-5295, 2009 [pdf]
  • Hao YB, Xie TP, Korotcov A, Zhou YF, Pang XW, Guo YH, Ji HG, Shan L, Wang PC, Califano J, Xinbin Gu XB. Salvianolic Acid B Inhibits Growth of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in vitro and in vivo via Cyclooxygenase-2 and Apoptotic Pathways. Int J Cancer 124(9):2200-2209, 2009 [pdf]
  • Yin JJ, Lao F, Fu PP, Wamer WG, Zhao YL, Wang PC, Han D , Qin Y, Sun BY, Xing GM, Dong JQ, Liang XJ, Chen CY. The Scavenging of Reactive Oxygen Species and the Potential for Cell Protection by Functionalized Fullerene Materials. Biomaterials. 30(4):611-621, 2009 [pdf]
  • Liang XJ, Chen CY, Zhao YL, Jia L, Wang PC. Biopharmaceutics and Therapeutic Potential of Engineered Nanoparticles. Curr Drug Metab. 9(8):697-709, 2008 [pdf]
  • Wang PC, Shan L, Wang SP, Korotcov A, Liang XJ. Transferrin Liposome Nanoparticle (TfNIR-LipNBD-Magnevist) – A Tumor Targeting MRI Contrast Agent. Acta Biophysica Sinica 24(4):315-322, 2008 [pdf]
  • Shan L, Zhang RS, Zhang WH, Lee E, Sridhar R, Snyderwine EG, Wang PC. Image-based Real-time Evaluation of the Molecular Events Underlying HC11 Mammary Epithelial Cell Differentiation. Anal Biochem 382:122-128, 2008 [pdf]
  • Yin JJ, Lao F, Meng J, Fu PP, Zhao YL, Xing GM, Gao XY, Sun BY, Wang PC, Chen CY, and Liang XJ. Inhibition of Tumor Growth by Endohedral Metallofullerenol Nanoparticles Optimized as Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenger. Mol Pharmacol. 74(4):1132-1140, 2008 [pdf]
  • Shan L, Hao Y, Wang S, Korotcov A, Zhang R, Wang T, Califano J, Gu X, Sridhar R, Bhujwalla ZM, Wang PC. Visualizing Head and Neck Tumors In Vivo Using Near-infrared Fluorescent Transferrin Conjugate. Mol Imaging 7:42-49, 2008 [pdf]
  • Liang Shan, Songping Wang, Alexandru Korotcov, Rajagopalan Sridhar, Paul C. Wang. Bioluminescent Animal Models of Human Breast Cancer for Tumor Biomass Evaluation and Metastasis Detection.Ethn Dis 18:S2-65-69, 2008 [pdf]
  • Ross, S, Ejofodomi O, Jendoubi A, Kinnard L, Chouikha M, Lo B, Wang P, Zheng J. A Mammography Database and View System for the African American Patients. J Dig Imaging 21:18-26, 2008 [pdf]
  • Cheng KT, Wang PC, and Shan L. Alexa Fluor 680-labeled Transferrin-cationic (NBD-labeled DOPE-DOTAP) Liposome-encapsulated Gadopentetate Dimeglumine Complex (Abbreviated name: TfNIR-LipNBD-CA complex) Targeting to Transferrin Receptors (TfR). In: Molecular Imaging and Contrast Agent Database (MICAD) [database online]. National Library of Medicine (US), NCBI; 2008 http://micad.nih.gov
  • Shan L, Wang S, Sridhar R, Bhujwalla ZM, Wang PC. Dual Probe with Fluorescent and Magnetic Properties for Imaging Solid Tumor Xenografts. Molecular Imaging 6(2)85-95, 2007 [pdf]
  • Manaye KF, Wang PC, O'Neil JN, Tizabi Y, Lei D, Xu T, Huang SY, Ottinger MA, Ingram DK, Mouton PR. Neuropathological Quantification of Dtg APP/PS1: Neuroimaging, Stereology, and Biochemistry. AGE, 2007; 29:87-96, 2007 [pdf]
  • Pirollo K, Dagata J, Wang PC, Freedman M, Vladar A, Fricke S, Ileva L, Zhou Q, Chang EH. A Tumor-Targeted Nanodelivery System to Improve Early MRI Detection of Cancer. Molecular Imaging 5(1):41-52, 2006 [pdf]
  • Liang XJ, Yin JJ, Zhou JW, Wang PC, Taylor B, Cardarelli C, Kozar M, Forte R, Aszalos A, Gottesman M. Changes in biophysical parameters of plasma membranes influence cisplatin resistance of sensitive and resistant epidermal carcinoma cells. Exp Cell Res 293:283-291, 2004 [pdf]
  • Kinnard L, Lo SB, Makariou E, Osicka T, Wang P, Chouikha MF, Freedman MT. Steepest changes of a probability-based cost function for delineation of mammographic masses: A validation study. Med. Phys. 31(10):2796-2810, 2004 [pdf]
  • Roh, MS, Bentz JA, Wang PC, Li EC, Koshioka M. Maturity and Temperature Stratification Affects the Germination of Styrax japonicus Seeds. J. Horticultural Sci. Biotech. Vol. 79, No. 4, July 2004 [pdf]
  • Scholz AM, Mitchell AD, Wang PC, Song HF. Accuracy of Volume Measurements by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. J. Anim. Sci. 79:1800-1813, 2001 [pdf]