Nontoxic, traceable nanoparticles may be the next weapon in cancer treatment
March 8, 2013
Theranostic nanoparticles (hydrophobic segments are visualized in green and hydrophilic segments in blue) (credit: Christian Porsch et al./Particle & Particle Systems Characterization)
Swedish scientists have developed “theranostic” (having both a therapeutic and diagnostic function) nanoparticles that can carry cancer drugs to tumor cells without toxicity and are biodegradable and traceable (can be seen in MRI images).
The nanoparticles were developed by a team including KTH Royal Institute of Technology Professor Eva Malmström-Jonsson, from the School of Chemical Science and researchers at Sweden’s Chalmer’s University and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
Doxorubicin (DOX), one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutics in the clinic, is employed to treat many different types of cancer, including bladder, lung, ovarian and breast cancer. However, similar to many other anti-cancer drugs, DOX has severe issues with toxicity,and can cause cardiac damage.
The method makes nanoparticles spontaneously build themselves up using customized macromolecules. The formation requires a balance between the particle’s hydrophilic (capable of dissolving in water) and hydrophobic (not dissolvable in water) parts. The hydrophobic portion makes it possible to fill the particle with the drug.
A relatively high concentration of the natural isotope 19F (fluorine) makes the particles clearly visible on high-resolution images taken by MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). By following the path of theranostic nanoparticles in the body, it is possible to obtain information about how the drug is taken up by the tumor and whether the treatment is working.
Images of nanoparticles with DOx anti-cancer drug. Scale bar = 100 nm. (Credit: Christian Porsch et al./Particle & Particle Systems Characterization)
The scientists filled nanoparticles with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (DOX), which is used to treat bladder, lung, ovarian and breast cancer. In experiments on cultured cells, they showed that the particles themselves are not harmful but can effectively kill cancer cells after being loaded with the drug.
Targeting difficult-to-treat tumors
The next step is to develop the system to target tumors that are difficult to treat with chemotherapy, such as brain tumors, pancreatic cancer, and drug-resistant breast cancer tumors.
“By targeting groups on the surface, or by changing the size or introducing ionic groups on our nanoparticles, one can increase the selective uptake in these tumors,” says Andreas Nystrom, an associate professor of nanomedicine at the Swedish Medical Nanoscience Center and Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute.
In the long term, the research can result in tailored chemotherapy treatments that seek out tumor cells. This would enable the toxic drug to be delivered more specifically to the tumor, making the treatment more effective while reducing side effects.
“What we want to do is try to give nanoparticles a homing function on the surface so that the drug is as effective as possible and can be transported to the right place,” Malmström-Jonsson says.
The study is funded in part by two grants from the Swedish Research Council to Andreas Nystrom and Eva Malmström-Jonsson. Malmström-Jonsson and Nystrom are also active in the company Polymer Factory Sweden AB.
Comments (10)
by Robert Nugent
This is very similar to another promising cancer treatment, antibody-drug conjugates. It’s the same concept, except instead of using synthetic nanoparticles to target cancer biomarkers, antibodies specific for these biomarkers are conjugated with chemotherapy drugs that can be given in several-fold lower doses due to the precise targeting that the technology delivers. For those interested in receiving treatments, they will be on the market soon, as several companies are currently racing to get these through clinical trials. I believe that when fully developed and released for use by the FDA, these types of treatments will effectively cure cancer.
by DanH
This sounds very similar to a story I read about 17 year old Angela Zheng. http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/01/13/cupertino-teen-devises-possible-cancer-cure/
by melajara
What Angela did is “just” consistent application of a powerful principle: divide and conquer
1, Identify the target
2, Bind to the target
3, Deliver the payload
4, Process (with possible application of an external force, Angela chose infrared light)
It is the same principle (multi stage rocket) that made possible to put men on the moon 44 years ago.
More and more, I’m thinking that a lot of still lethal cancer types and AIDS could already have been cured if the big pharmas would have been willing to. But the logic of immediate profits confine those corporations in the pursuit of marginal progress. Their Holy Grail is not a simple cure. On the contrary, it is a set of expensive drugs just stabilizing cancer’s (or AIDS) progression. With all the incurred drama, then you (I mean citizens and society as a collective organism) will accept huge prices to be paid, in effect years of wages, for a never ending therapy.
What we really need is a paradigm shift where big pharmas will not been prevented to cure some major ailment, hence sabotaging future profits, but profit from a never ending quest (considering our present understanding of the task).
I think the new holy grail should be for them the active pursuit of aggressive rejuvenation therapies (backed by fund pensions, ETF, derivative products and all the investment paraphernalia of modern finance). This is not absurd as the cosmetic industry is making billions annually for essentially fake treatments. The paradigm shift could come when people will start to believe that rejuvenation is actually possible.
I’ve no doubt that, barring the usual bigots, society at large will then embrace it and pour funds to make it happen (sooner).
For those interested, this new modus operandi of a major segment of the healthcare business promoted in a new kind of society we are converging to nolens, volens (a society owned by the old people), is beautifully exemplified in Bruce Sterling’s SF novel “Holy Fire”.
by Bri
Right on target!
by Jeff
I have heard of a multitude of similar studies over the past decade. Yet when a dear friend was reciently diagnosed with cancer, what choice was she given? Standard chemotherapy. When will these advances make it out of the lab?
by Mike Hutchinson
I think you’re referring to the
gold-coated nano-particle being heated
with a laser once it is directed to the tumor.
The concept is similar to heating a cup of
Coffee in the microwave. It destroys the cancer
without damaging the normal cells. I think
Baylor University in Texas is doing some
Research with this technology, but I am not
Positive.
by beth ayers
Intuitively it sounds promising; wondering why it isn’t being pursued with vigor…?
by beth ayers
I had heard about a similar nano technology where a gold molecule was attached to the nano particle that searched out the cancer. Then patients were put into an MRI and the gold “zapped” the cancer cells. In this case, no drugs were used. Has anyone heard if this technology is being developed?
by Mike Hutchinson
It would be nice if they could be linked to
something like autologous adult stem cells and guided
directly to the tumor.
by Robb Greathouse
Could this method also be used for Gleevic? While mild for chemo-therapy it is used for chronic cancers and must be used for decades. This could releve the side effects.