Xiaoyuan (Shawn) Chen

Administrative Appointments

• Topical Editor, Nanoscale Research Letters (2008 - present)
• Editorial Board, European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (2008 - present)
• Editorial Board, J Nucl Med (2008 - present)
• Editorial Board, Bioconjugate Chemistry (2008 - present)
• Editorial Board, Molecular Imaging (2008 - present)
View All 11administrative appointments of Xiaoyuan Chen

Honors and Awards

• Best Basic Science paper, J Nucl Med (2008)
• Best Basic Science Awards, SNM Annual Meetings (2006, 2007, 2008)
• First place award, SNM’s Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence (2008)

Postdoctoral Advisees

Qizhen Cao , Jinhao Gao , Eue Soon Jang , Shuanglong Liu

Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations

• Biophysics
• Radiology

Web Site Links

• Molecular Imaging Probe Laboratory (MIPL)

Current Research Interests

We are interested in developing and validating novel molecular imaging probes (nanoparticles, antibodies, proteins, peptides and small organic molecules) for the visualization and quantification of molecular targets that are aberrantly expressed during tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. We are trying to combine both anatomical and molecular imaging techniques to pinpoint molecular and functional information related to tumor growth and dissemination, and monitor specific molecular therapeutic efficacy. We are currently working closely with two important angiogenesis targets: integrin alpha(v)beta(3) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor subtype-2 (VEGFR-2). Integrins expressed on endothelial cells modulate cell migration and survival during angiogenesis. Integrins expressed on carcinoma cells potentiate metastasis by facilitating invasion and movement across blood vessels. In several malignancies, tumor expression of integrin alpha(v)beta(3) correlates well with tumor progression. VEGF is a key regulator of tumor angiogenesis and is the most potent endothelial cell mitogen. Binding of VEGF to its receptor on the endothelial cell membrane stimulates the VEGF signaling pathway. VEGFR-2 (KDR/Flk-1) is the primary VEGF receptor on endothelial cells. Specific projects include nanoplatform-based molecular imaging, multimodality imaging of angiogenesis and metastasis, as well as targeted delivery of gene, chemo, and radiotherapeutics.

Publications

• Circulation and long-term fate of functionalized, biocompatible single-walled carbon nanotubes in mice probed by Raman spectroscopy. Liu Z, Davis C, Cai W, He L, Chen X, Dai H. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008; 105 (5): 1410-5
• US imaging of tumor angiogenesis with microbubbles targeted to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type 2 in mice. Willmann JK, Paulmurugan R, Chen K, Gheysens O, Rodriguez-Porcel M, Lutz AM, Chen IY, Chen X, Gambhir SS. Radiology. 2008; 246 (2): 508-18
• Preparation of peptide-conjugated quantum dots for tumor vasculature-targeted imaging. Cai W, Chen X. Nat Protoc. 2008; 3 (1): 89-96
• Monitoring of the biological response to murine hindlimb ischemia with 64Cu-labeled vascular endothelial growth factor-121 positron emission tomography. Willmann JK, Chen K, Wang H, Paulmurugan R, Rollins M, Cai W, Wang DS, Chen IY, Gheysens O, Rodriguez-Porcel M, Chen X, Gambhir SS. Circulation. 2008; 117 (7): 915-22
• In Vivo Biodistribution and Highly Efficient Tumor Targeting of Carbon Nanotubes in Mice Liu Z, Cai W, He L, Nakayama N, Sun X, Chen X, Dai H. Nat Nanotechnol. 2007; 2 (1): 47-52