Nanotechnology Update
Nanomedicine – Fighting Cancer
Today’s Focus
Nanomaterials – Cleaning Water
Rescheduled to later date
Presented to
Minnesota Futurists
16 January 2010
David Keenan
Nanomedicine – Fighting Cancer
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Futures Methodology – Technology Scanning
Background
Overview of Approaches & Benefits
Examples
Status of Developments – Clinic Trials
Cautionary Statements
Possible Futures
Technology Scanning
• Usually applied by companies to explore opportunities for expansion
or threat assessment from competitors
 New markets, new products, new technologies
 Foresight: Wise anticipation that leads to action
 Structured procedures for opportunity search
• Types of scanning
– (i) Exploratory gazing. (ii) Structured scanning.
– (iii) Directed viewing. (iv) In depth probing
• Structured scanning
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Preparation.
Observation.
Interpretation.
Evaluation.
To find
– (i) Landmark technologies (ii) Targeted technologies (iii) Market ideas
Van Wyk, R.J. Copyright 2000, Center for the Development of Technological Leadership, (now Technological Leadership Institute)
1300 South Second Street, Minneapolis, MN 55454
Seven Pools of Information
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Macro-map of technological trends: technoscan® 
Landmark technologies 
Corporate competencies
Technology relevance matrix
List of targeted technologies
Probes of targeted technologies 
Roadmaps of selected technologies
 Used
to prepare today’s presentation – review of 56
source articles
Van Wyk, R.J. Copyright 2000, Center for the Development of Technological Leadership, (now Technological Leadership Institute)
1300 South Second Street, Minneapolis, MN 55454
Cancer Detection - Conventional
Imaging
• Current imaging methods can only readily detect cancers once they
have made a visible change to a tissue, by which time thousands of
cells will have proliferated and perhaps metastasized.
• And even when visible, the nature of the tumor—malignant or
benign—and the characteristics that might make it responsive to a
particular treatment must be assessed through biopsies.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/impact/diagnosis.asp
Cancer Detection – Next Generation
Imaging
• Imagine if cancerous or even pre-cancerous cells could somehow be
tagged for detection by conventional scans.
• Two things necessary—specifically identify a cancerous cell and
something that enables it to be seen.
• Antibodies that identify specific receptors found to be overexpressed
in cancerous cells can be coated on to nanoparticles which produce a
high contrast signal on MRI or CT scans.
• Inside the body, the antibodies on these nanoparticles bind selectively
to cancerous cells, effectively lighting them up for the scanner.
• Nanotechnology will enable the visualization of molecular markers
that identify specific stages and types of cancers, allowing doctors to
see cells and molecules undetectable through conventional imaging.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/impact/diagnosis.asp
Cancer Screening – Next Generation
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Screening for biomarkers in tissues and fluids for diagnosis will also
be enhanced and potentially revolutionized by nanotechnology.
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Individual cancers differ from each other and from normal cells by
changes in the expression and distribution of tens to hundreds of
molecules.
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As therapeutics advance, it may require the simultaneous detection of
several biomarkers to identify a cancer for treatment selection.
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Nanoparticles such as quantum dots, which emit light of different
colors depending on their size, could enable the simultaneous
detection of multiple markers. The photoluminescence signals from
antibody-coated quantum dots could be used to screen for certain
types of cancer. Different colored quantum dots would be attached to
antibodies for cancer biomarkers to allow oncologists to discriminate
cancerous and healthy cells by the spectrum of light they see.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/impact/diagnosis.asp
Nanotechnology Benefits
for Treatment and Clinical Outcomes
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Cancer therapies are currently limited to surgery, radiation, and
chemotherapy. All three methods risk damage to normal tissues or
incomplete eradication of the cancer.
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Nanotechnology offers the means to aim therapies directly and
selectively at cancerous cells.
– Nanocarriers
– Passive Targeting
– Active Targeting
– Destruction from Within
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/impact/treatment.asp
Nanocarriers
• Conventional chemotherapy employs drugs that are known to kill
cancer cells effectively. But these cytotoxic drugs kill healthy cells in
addition to tumor cells, leading to adverse side effects such as
nausea, neuropathy, hair-loss, fatigue, and compromised immune
function.
• Nanoparticles can be used as drug carriers for chemotherapeutics to
deliver medication directly to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue.
Nanocarriers have several advantages over conventional
chemotherapy. They can:
– protect drugs from being degraded in the body before they reach
their target.
– enhance the absorption of drugs into tumors and into the
cancerous cells themselves.
– allow for better control over the timing and distribution of drugs to
the tissue, making it easier for oncologists to assess how well they
work.
– prevent drugs from interacting with normal cells, thus avoiding
side effects.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/impact/treatment.asp
Passive Targeting
• There are now several nanocarrier-based drugs on the market,
which rely on passive targeting through a process known as
"enhanced permeability and retention."
• Because of their size and surface properties, certain nanoparticles
can escape through blood vessel walls into tissues.
• In addition, tumors tend to have leaky blood vessels and defective
lymphatic drainage, causing nanoparticles to accumulate in them,
thereby concentrating the attached cytotoxic drug where it's needed,
protecting healthy tissue and greatly reducing adverse side effects.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/impact/treatment.asp
Active Targeting
• On the horizon are nanoparticles that will actively target drugs to
cancerous cells, based on the molecules that they express on their
cell surface.
• Molecules that bind particular cellular receptors can be attached to a
nanoparticle to actively target cells expressing the receptor. Active
targeting can even be used to bring drugs into the cancerous cell, by
inducing the cell to absorb the nanocarrier.
• Active targeting can be combined with passive targeting to further
reduce the interaction of carried drugs with healthy tissue.
• Nanotechnology-enabled active and passive targeting can also
increase the efficacy of a chemotherapeutic, achieving greater tumor
reduction with lower doses of the drug.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/impact/treatment.asp
Destruction from Within
• Moving away from conventional chemotherapeutic agents that
activate normal molecular mechanisms to induce cell death,
researchers are exploring ways to physically destroy cancerous
cells from within.
• One such technology—nanoshells—is being used in the laboratory
to thermally destroy tumors from the inside. Nanoshells can be
designed to absorb light of different frequencies, generating heat
(hyperthermia). Once the cancer cells take up the nanoshells (via
active targeting), scientists apply near-infrared light that is absorbed
by the nanoshells, creating an intense heat inside the tumor that
selectively kills tumor cells without disturbing neighboring healthy
cells.
• Similarly, new targeted magnetic nanoparticles are in development
that will both be visible through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
and can also destroy cells by hyperthermia.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/impact/treatment.asp
“ The science in this area is exploding.
The cancer community really gets into this now.”
- Gregory Downing, National Cancer Institute
Nanotechnology Takes Aim at Cancer – Science Vol 130 18Nov05 pp1132-1134
Nanotechnology Based Drug Delivery
Systems for Cancer Therapy
Schematics - Reproduced from Sahoo and Labhasetwar, 2003 with kind permission from Drug Discovery Today.
http://www.cancer-therapy.org/CT3A/HTML/13.%20Orive%20et%20al,%20131-138%20.html 2005
Nanotechnology Based Drug Delivery
Systems for Cancer Therapy
Nanoparticle
Description
Recent applications
Reference
Nanocapsules
Vesicular systems in which the drug is
surrounded by a polymeric membrane
Stability of the cisplatin nanocapsules has
been optimized by varying the lipid
composition of the bilayer coat
Velinova,
2004
Nanospheres
Matrix systems in which the drug is
physically and uniformly dispersed
Bovine serum albumin nanospheres
containing 5-fluorouracil show higher tumour
inhibition than the free drug
Santhi,
2002
Micelles
Amphiphilic block copolymers that can
self-associate in aqueous solution
Micelle delivery of doxorubicin increases
cytotoxicity to prostate carcinoma cells
McNaealy,
2004
Ceramic
nanoparticles
Nanoparticles fabricated using inorganic
compounds including silica, titania…
Ultra fine silica based nanoparticles releasing
water insoluble anticancer drug
Roy, 2003
Liposomes
Artificial spherical vesicles produced
from natural phospholipids and
cholesterol
Radiation-guided drug delivery of liposomal
cisplatin to tumor blood vessels results in
improved tumour growth delay
Geng, 2004
Dendrimers
Macromolecular compound that
comprise a series of branches around
an inner core
Targeted delivery within dendrimers improved
the cytotoxic response of the cells to
methotrexate 100-fold over free drug
Quintana,
2002
SLN particles
Nanoparticles made from solid lipids
SLN powder formulation of all-trans retinoic
acid may have potential in cancer
chemoprevention and therapeutics.
Soo-Jeong,
2004
http://www.cancer-therapy.org/CT3A/HTML/13.%20Orive%20et%20al,%20131-138%20.html 2005
Examples of nanocarriers for
targeting cancer
A whole range of delivery agents are possible but the main components
typically include a nanocarrier, a targeting moiety conjugated to the
nanocarrier, and a cargo (such as the desired chemotherapeutic drugs).
http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v2/n12/fig_tab/nnano.2007.387_F3.html
Examples of nanocarriers for
targeting cancer
Schematic diagram of the drug conjugation and
entrapment processes. The chemotherapeutics could
be bound to the nanocarrier, as in the use of
polymer–drug conjugates, dendrimers and some
particulate carriers, or they could be entrapped inside
the nanocarrier.
http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v2/n12/fig_tab/nnano.2007.387_F3.html
Mechanisms by which Nanocarriers
Can Deliver Drugs to Tumors
Polymeric nanoparticles are shown as
representative nanocarriers (circles).
Passive tissue targeting is achieved by
extravasation of nanoparticles (NP)
through increased permeability of the
tumor vasculature and ineffective
lymphatic drainage (EPR effect).
Active cellular targeting (inset)
can be achieved by
functionalizing the
surface of NP with
ligands that promote
cell-specific recognition
and binding. The nanoparticles can (i) release their contents in close
proximity to the target cells; (ii) attach to the membrane of the cell and act as
an extracellular sustained-release drug depot; or (iii) internalize into the cell.
http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v2/n12/fig_tab/nnano.2007.387_F1.html
Who is doing what
Quantum Dots
• Raw quantum dots, 2-8 nm
are toxic, CdSe or CdTe
cores with ZnS shell
• But they fluoresce brilliantly,
better than dyes (imaging
agents)
• Coat with tri-n-octyl-phosphine
oxide (TOPO), then polymer to
prevent toxicity
• Add polyethylene glycol
(PEG) to improve
biocompatibility
• Add other links to attach to
target receptors
• Only way of clearance of
protected QDs from the body
is by slow filtration and
excretion through the kidney
http://www.azonano.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1726
Quantum Dots
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A research team from Quantum Dot
Corporation and Genentech proved the
potential of QDs to identify live breast cancer
cells that are likely to respond to an anti-cancer
drug
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QD technology helps cancer researchers to
observe fundamental molecular events
occurring in the tumor cells by tracking the QDs
of different sizes and thus different colors,
tagged to multiple different biomoleules, in vivo
by fluorescent microscopy.
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QD technology holds a great potential for
applications in nanobiotechnology and medical
diagnostics where QDs could be used as
labels.
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Use of QDs in humans requires extensive
research to determine the long-term effects of
administering QDs.
http://www.azonano.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1726
Nanoshells
http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/2008/07/at_long_last_na.html
Nanoshells
• Developed by Drs. Naomi Halas and Jennifer West –
Rice University 1994
• Nanoshells have a core of silica and a metallic
outer layer. These nanoshells can be injected safely,
as demonstrated in animal models.
• Because of their size, nanoshells will preferentially
concentrate in cancer lesion sites. This physical
selectivity occurs through a phenomenon called
enhanced permeation retention (EPR).
• Can further decorate the nanoshells to carry
molecular conjugates to the antigens that are
expressed on the cancer cells themselves or in the
tumor microenvironment. This second degree of
specificity preferentially links the nanoshells to the
tumor and not to neighboring healthy cells.
http://singularityhub.com/2009/12/14/nih-guides-nanomedicine-towards-killing-cancer/
Nanoshells
• Externally supply energy to these cells. The specific properties associated
with nanoshells allow for the absorption of this directed energy, creating
an intense heat that selectively kills the tumor cells. The external energy
can be mechanical, radio frequency, optical - the therapeutic action is the
same.
• The result is greater efficacy of the therapeutic treatment and a
significantly reduced set of side effects.
• Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyhxRIvw_cY&feature=player_embedded &
http://singularityhub.com/2009/12/14/nih-guides-nanomedicine-towards-killingcancer/
• In clinical trials as AuroLase™of June ‘08 via Nanospectra founded by
Halas and West.2
• Video of AuroLase http://www.nanospectra.com/autolasevideo.html
http://singularityhub.com/2009/12/14/nih-guides-nanomedicine-towards-killing-cancer/
2 http://www.nanospectra.com/documents/NanospectraPilotHNTrial2008-07-01.pdf
Review of Trials 2005
Still in trials
FDA fast track
’06 2
Approved ‘05
In Market 3
Nanotechnology Takes Aim at Cancer – Science Vol 130 18Nov05 pp1132-1134
2
http://www.starpharma.com/vivagel.asp
3
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/now/clinical-trials.asp
Starpharma - Dendrimers
• Dendrimers can be divided into three sections:
1. the multivalent surface, containing a
high number of potential reactive sites
2. the outer shell just below the surface,
3. the core in case of higher generation
dendrimers.
• Demonstrated improved solubility of
Paclitaxel by 9,000x
2
• Starpharma – Melbourne, Australia (SPX:ASL, SPHRY:OTCQXADR) Sales ~ $10M ’09, ’08 not yet profitable
• US Division – Dendritic Nanotechnologies, Mt. Pleasant, MI
http://www.starpharma.com/about-starpharma.asp
2
http://dnanotech.com/glossary.php
3 http://dnanotech.com/targetedDrugDelivery.php
3
http://www.starpharma.com/data/product-pipeline-002.pdf
NCI ANC
Approaches In Trial or Ready Soon
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Drs. Caius Radu, Owen Witte and Michael Phelps at the Nanosystems Biology
Cancer Center (Caltech/UCLA CCNE) have developed a series of positron
emission tomography (PET) imaging agents. These agents are being tested for
assigning patients for chemotherapy with drugs such as gemcitabine, cytarabine,
fludarabine, and others used to treat cancers including metastatic breast, non-small
cell lung, ovarian, and pancreatic, as well as leukemia and lymphomas. Tumors
responsive to these drugs show up as bright images in PET scans when patients
are first dosed with imaging agent. Biodistribution studies have been conducted in
eight healthy volunteers. Clinical development is being conducted by Sofie
Biosciences.
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At the Center of Nanotechnology for Treatment, Understanding, and Monitoring of
Cancer (NANO-TUMOR) (UCSD CCNE), Dr. Thomas Kipps developed a
chemically engineered adenovirus nanoparticle to deliver a molecule that stimulates
the immune system. Phase I clinical trials, being run jointly by Memgen and the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, are underway in patients with chronic lymphocytic
leukemia. An ongoing Phase I dose escalation study is evaluating patients who
received direct intranodal injection of the chemically-engineered virus. Systemic
clinical effects have been observed with a single injection with significant reductions
in leukemia cell counts and reductions in the size of all lymph nodes and spleen.
One patient went into complete remission.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/now/clinical-trials.asp
NCI ANC
Approaches In Trial or Ready Soon
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Calando Pharmaceuticals, founded by Dr. Mark Davis at the Caltech/UCLA
CCNE, is conducting clinical trials with a cyclodextrin-based nanoparticle that
safely encapsulates a small-interfering RNA (siRNA) agent that shuts down a
key enzyme in cancer cells. This open-label, dose-escalating trial is testing the
safety of this drug in patients who have become resistant to other
chemotherapies. Calando is also conducting clinical trials cyclodextrin-based
polymer conjugated to camptothecin. This trial is also an open-label, doseescalation study of IT-101 administered in patients with solid tumor
malignancies.
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At the Siteman Center of Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence (Washington
University CCNE), Drs. Gregory Lanza and Samuel Wickline have developed
a nanoparticle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent that binds to
the αvβ3-intregrin found on the surface of the newly developing blood vessels
associated with early tumor development. Kereos, which was founded by
Alliance investigators, is conducting Phase I clinical trials with this agent to
assess its utility in the early detection of cancer.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/now/clinical-trials.asp
NCI ANC
Approaches In Trial or Ready Soon
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Diagnostic company Nanosphere, founded by Dr. Chad Mirkin to commercialize
technology developed at the Nanomaterials for Cancer Diagnostic and
Therapeutics Center (Northwestern Univ. CCNE) has already received FDA
approval for a nanosensor test for the drug Coumadin. This same technology can
be easily adapted to detect important cancer biomarkers, such as prostate specific
antigen (PSA) or to measure blood levels of anticancer agents.
A
joint project between Nanosphere, the Northwestern CCNE, and the Robert H.
Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center is conducting a clinical study using human
tissue samples to monitor very low levels of PSA to determine if such
measurements, which are well beyond the sensivity of conventional PSA assays,
can provide early warnings of disease recurrence.
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Dr. Ralph Weissleder, an investigator at the MIT-Harvard Center for Cancer
Nanotechnology Excellence, is leading a clinical trial to determine if lymphotrophic
superparamagnetic nanoparticles developed at the CCNE can be used to identify
small and otherwise undetectable lymph node metastases.
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The Integrated Blood Barcode (IBBC) chip, developed by Dr. James Heath at the
Caltech/UCLA CCNE, is now undergoing validation tests to measure the levels of
approximately 800 miRNAs from 21 melanoma patients before and after therapy.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/now/clinical-trials.asp
NCI ANC
Approaches In Trial or Ready Soon
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Clinical trials - scheduled to begin later this year on a new type of CT scanner,
developed by Dr. Otto Zhou at the Carolina Center of Cancer Nanotechnology
Excellence (UNC) uses carbon nanotubes as the x-ray source. This new scanner,
developed through a joint venture with Xintek, founded by CCNE members, and
Siemens, a leader in medical imaging, contains 52 nanotube x-ray sources and
detectors arranged in a ring, that eliminates the need to move the x-ray source and
increases precision and speed of CT scanning, could be preferred method for
detecting small tumors.
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Discussions with the FDA to start clinical trials using carbon nanotubes to improve
colorectal cancer imaging. Imaging agent being developed by Dr. Sanjiv Sam
Gambhir from the Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence Focused on
Therapy Response Stanford Univ.
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A nanoparticle designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and specifically target
glioblastomas is also nearing clinical trials. This nanoparticle agent can function as
both an MRI contrast agent and a drug delivery device. Developed by Dr. Miqin
Zhang - Univ. Washington Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnership for
Pediatric Brain Cancer Imaging and Therapy.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/now/clinical-trials.asp
NCI ANC
Approaches In Trial or Ready Soon
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BIND Biosciences, founded by Drs. Robert Langer and Omid Farokhzad of the
MIT-Harvard CCNE, anticipates having its lead compound in clinical trials in
2010. BIND’s targeted nanoparticles consist of a polymer matrix, therapeutic
payloads, functional surface moieties, and targeting ligands which allow for
particle optimization (i.e., accumulation in target tissue, avoidance of being
cleared by immune system, and delivery of drug with desired release profile).
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Liquidia Technologies founded by Univ. North Carolina CCNE Dr. Joseph
DeSimone. Liquidia's proprietary PRINT (Pattern Replication In Non-wetting
Templates) technology enables the design and manufacture of precisely
engineered nanoparticles with respect to particle size, shape, modulus, chemical
composition, and surface functionality.
http://nano.cancer.gov/learn/now/clinical-trials.asp
Similar to BIND Bioscience
Triple threat – one example
a multi-function nanoparticle
combines tumor seeking
sensors, imaging agents and
toxins to kill cancer cells
Nanotechnology Takes Aim at Cancer – Science Vol 130 18Nov05 pp1132-1134
Doxil - Approved
Approved for
• Ovarian Cancer
• AIDS-related Karposi’s
Sarcoma
• Multiple Myeloma
The STEALTH® liposome
• methoxypolyethylene glycol
(mPEG) containing
Antitumor antibiotic
Interferes with cell division
Half life 55 hours in humans
~ 100 nm size
Produced by Ben Venue Labs, - Bedford, OH, contract mfg Div. of Boeringer Ingelheim
Distributed by Centocor Ortho Biotech, Inc – Horsham, PA private, Div. of J&J
STEALTH ® and DOXIL ® are trademarks of ALZA Corporation, Div. of J&J
http://www.doxil.com/assets/DOXIL_PI_Booklet.pdf
Abraxane - Approved
• Approved for Breast Cancer
• Albumin-bound Paclitaxel
• Paclitaxel – powerful
anticancer drug – not water
soluble
• Abraxane is water soluble –
reduces treatment to 30 min
from 3 hrs for solvent version
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& its side effects
• ~130 nm
•
• American Pharmaceutical
Partners and American
BioScience, Inc – approved
by FDA 05Jan05
• Produced by Abraxis
BioScience – Los Angeles, CA
•
• Not yet profitable
ABII:NASDAQ
http://www.abraxisbio.com/rnd_platform_nab.htm
Drugs are delivered to tumors by leaky
junctions in the blood vessels.
Drugs also bind to albumin and are transported
in the blood and delivered to tumors. This is
accomplished first by taking advantage of the
transport system (gp60 pathway) across the
endothelial cells and then concentrating within
the tumor interstitium by its affinity for SPARC
(Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine).
Finally, the water insolubility of many active
chemotherapy agents is overcome by using
proteins instead of additional chemicals to
dissolve the active drug.
Coroxane – In Phase 2 Trials
• Angioplasty, removal of plaque in arteries, short-term solution
Next, a bare metal stent is placed to keep the vessel from narrowing.
Drug-eluting stents containing either paclitaxel or rapamycin have been
approved for treatment of restenosis in the coronary arteries. The drug
helps to prevent hardening of the artery in conjunction with the stent.
• COROXANE™, a microtubule stabilizer, is being developed by Abraxis to
be used in conjunction with stents to prevent arterial restenosis.
• Coronary Artery Restenosis: ~800,000/yr procedures of coronary artery
stenting in the US alone. While drug-eluting stents are encouraging, may
be complications after surgery, weakening of the artery wall, blood clots,
and an increased risk of heart attack when the vessel doesn’t heal
completely. COROXANE™ is currently in phase 2 trials for CAR.
• Peripheral Artery Disease of the lower extremities is common in older
adults, caused by thickening of the blood vessel wall that limits blood
flow to the legs. Standard treatment is angioplasty alone. Surgical
placement of stents in the blood vessel has had limited success. Phase 2
studies are focusing on the use of COROXANE™ along with angioplasty
of the affected blood vessel.
• Produced by Abraxis BioScience – Los Angeles, CA
http://www.abraxisbio.com/rnd_pipeline_nda.htm
Latest News Items
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Newest Breathalyser Knows if You Have Lung Cancer - Israeli Institute of
Technology breathalyser works using gold nanoparticles to detect 4 of the 42
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that indicate lung cancer. Clinical trials
expected in 2 years. 1 Sep09
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Ultra-tiny 'bees' target tumors - tiny particles designed to destroy cancer cells
by delivering a synthesized version of a toxin called melittin that is found in bees
- Nanobees, are engineered to travel directly to tumor cells without harming any
others. They leave the healthy cells alone because the blood vessels around a
tumor express a particular protein to which a substance on the nanobees has a
chemical affinity. So far tested only on mice, with promising results. therapy
could become widely available in humans in 5 to 10 years.2 Aug 09
•
Nano-treatment to torpedo cancer – School of Pharmancy,London
Nanotechnology has been used for the first time to destroy cancer cells with a
highly targeted package of "tumor busting" genes, which were taken up by
cancer cell, but not surrounding healthy cells. 3 Mar 09
1 http://singularityhub.com/2009/09/01/newest-breathalyser-knows-if-you-have-lung-cancer/
2 http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/18/nanotech.cancer.nano.tumors/
3
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7935592.stm
Latest News Items
•
Nanotechnology in clinical trials to restore normal gene function to cancer
cells - Loss of normal p53 function results in malignant cell growth and has been
linked to resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy in a number of cancers.
Ester Chang, Georgetown Univ. delivered group delivered functional p53 genes
to tumor cells and tumor metastases in 16 different types of cancer in animal
models. When the job of reinstating a normal p53 suppressor gene is done, the
nanoparticle, essentially a little fat droplet wrapped around the gene, simply
melts away, unlike non-biodegradable delivery systems. Phase 1 human trials
are underway at Baylor Univ - Dallas. 1 Apr09
•
Nanotechnology therapy for brain cancer - Argonne National Laboratory
show the first evidence of successful bioconjugated nanoparticles targeting
toward cancer and away from normal brain cells. Uses 5 nm TiO2 nanoparticles
that are covalently conjugated with an antibody that specifically targets certain
tumors, including GBM. A naturally occurring metabolite of dopamin, DOPAC, is
used as a linker molecule to tether the antibody to the nanoparticles. The TiO2
absorb energy from light, which is then transferred to molecular oxygen,
producing cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS damages the cell
membrane and induces programmed death of the cancer cell. 2 Oct 09
1 http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=3018
2 http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=12962.php
Latest News Items
Multifunctional nanotechnology device for integrated, cell-based nanotherapy
•
Dr. Dean-Mo Liu, National Chiao
Tung University team developed
core/shell drug-delivery
nanocapsule – a polymer core
covered with a thin layer of
single-crystal iron oxide shell and
then deposited zinc-copperindium-sulphur (ZCIS)
nanocrystals onto the surface to
form a nanoscale multifunctional
platform.
•
The iron oxide shell opens with
magnetic field in 60 sec. and
triggers a color change in the
non-toxic quantum dot allowing
in-situ monitoring. Nov09
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=13428.php
Latest News Items
University research teams mix nanomaterials that give tumors a onetwo punch in trials
• Teams of researchers from three universities are jointly developing a
nanotechnology cocktail that should target and kill cancerous tumors.
• The mixture of two different-sized nanoparticles work with the body's
bloodstream to seek out, stick to and kill tumors. The nanomaterials are
injected into the patient's vein. One is designed find the cancerous tumor
and then adhere to it, while the second is designed to then kill the tumor.
• "This study represents the first example of the benefits of employing a
cooperative nanosystem to fight cancer," said Michael Sailor, a lead
researcher on the project and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry
at the University of California, San Diego.
• The study, which has been tested on mice, is being conducted by teams
of researchers at MIT, the University of California, San Diego, and UC
Santa Barbara. 07Jan10
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9143286/Researchers_Nano_cocktail_could_target_kill_cancerous_tumors
Cautionary notes
• Why is x not listed?
• Success or failure of a clinical trial
• Lots of different cancers
• What about other diseases?
Summary
• Cancer Study
– Quantum dots improve study of cell biology of diseases
• Cancer Detection
– Nanoparticle imaging agents improve early detection
– Nanosensors aid in screening
• Cancer Treatment
– Wide variety of nanoparticles as drug or gene delivery vehicles
– Nanoparticles as absorbers for IR energy for heat death
• Multi-function Approaches
– Efforts to combine detection, collection at tumor sites,
observation and treatment
Possible Futures
•
•
•
•
With first approvals, a few nano-drugs are in the market.
Several more will follow.
A few will fail – consequences.
Insurance reimbursement may lag
– High initial cost may limit who gets to benefit
• Scale-up of new technology drugs may limit availability
• Some early company success stories will fail or wallow
–
–
–
–
Difficult to grow
Difficult to leverage technology
Difficult to recoup start-up costs
Difficult management issues, legal, IP, etc
• Some cancers will remain unresponsive
• Some cancers will be cured
Thank you for your interest
Coming Attractions
Nanotechnology for Clean Water
• Based on ICPC Nanotechnology for Water Purification
WebConferences - Dec 2, 8 & 15, 2009
• ICPCNanoNet is a 4-year project, funded by the European
Commission under the 7th Framework Programme
• Aims to provide wider access to published nanoscience
and nanotechnology research and opportunities for
collaboration between organizations and scientists in the
EU and International Cooperation Partner Countries
• Online workshop brought together experts in the field
interested in cooperating with their peers in Europe, Africa,
Asia, Latin America and other parts of the world.
• Information available at
http://www.icpc-nanonet.org/mos/Frontpage/Itemid,1/