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Screening of breast cancer patients for their tumour's prognostic marker status is necessary in determining the most suitable course of treatment. This is particularly important in the assessment of HER-2 expression status in identifying candidates who may respond to trastuzumab therapy. Current methods are limited in their effectiveness in accurately determining actual marker status.Discussed herein is an investigation into the development of a titanium dioxide nanoparticle system which may be applied as a medical imaging methodology through the use of positron emission tomography to gauge accurately a patient's HER-2 expression status in identifying candidates for trastuzumab therapy. The initial synthesis of organically coated ultra-small titanium dioxide nanoparticles is discussed in depth with respect to a range of coating molecules and further functionalisation. Additionally, methodology to elicit an exchange of these coat molecules is explored in detail resulting in the generation of TiO2 nanoparticles capable of forming long-term stable suspensions in water. An exploration of the synthesis of fluoride accepting groups for use in generating radiolabelled compounds is explored both successfully and unsuccessfully leading to the development of conditions suitable for radiolabelling aryltrifluoroborate compounds. Attempts to then combine these radionuclide accepting groups with biologically compatible TiO2 nanoparticles are discussed as an initial step toward the generation of a potential PET tracer. However, while this conjugation was achieved, a successful demonstration of the radiolabelling was not achieved requiring further focus on modulating the nanoparticle to easily allow its recovery from such reactions. Finally, an investigation into the effects of trastuzumab and cetuximab on FDG uptake by cells in vitro is discussed with respect to the potential of monitoring disease response to these drugs with conventional FDG-PET.

Current and future pollutant enussion legislation calls for decreased NOx emissions from combustion systems. A review of techniques used for NOx abatement led to the choice of combustor redesign to be the most cost effective method available. This led to the design, construction and development of a combustion system that utilised a Coanda ejector to generate recirculation of the exiting high temperature combustion products to mix with the air supply. Cooling of the burner was integrated into the design through the use of the air and fuel supplies. Computational fluid dynamics was used to model and aid development of the design. The model was used to predict NOx and CO emissions and the fuel-air mixing pattern. This, along with an analysis of experimental results and observations led to an understanding of the burner operation with respect to pollutant emissions and stability. NOx emissions from the Coanda burner were found to be lowest when using a 0.2 mm Coanda gap width, resulting in 16 ppm NOx being emitted at an air to fuel ratio of 1.5. However, the use ofa 0.2 mm Coanda gap width required an air supply pressure of up to 4 bar. The use of a 0.5 mm Coanda gap width enabled burner operation at lower air supply pressures. The resulting NOx emissions were measured as 23 ppm at an air to fuel ratio of 1.I, with a corresponding exit gas temperature of 2200 K. Flue gas recirculation quantity, flame stability, flame stabiliser shape and operational limits proved to be inter-linked in the reduction of NOx emissions. It was found that fuel-air mixing was controlled by the entrainment properties of the Coanda ejector and the flame stabiliser. The average oxygen concentration entering the combustion chamber when using a 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm Coanda gap width was 13.7 % and 16.6 %, respectively. Due to the position of the fuel injector, a fuel rich region formed behind the flame stabiliser. With a suitable flame stabiliser geometry and the use of 'fingers', low NOx combustion and flame stability was achieved near stoichiometric conditions. It was shown that the design of the burner enabled very low pollutant emissions near stoichiometric conditions, resulting in high exit gas temperatures. Conceivable applications of this type of burner could lie in small and intermediate furnaces where low NOx emissions are required. Additionally, very high temperature applications, such as glass furnaces could benefit in both cost and pollutant emissions from such a burner.