State-of-the-art nanoparticles, specially engineered at the University of Florida, will in the future be able to target cancerous tumors and eliminate them, thus saving patients from chemotherapy that is toxic to the body
State-of-the-art nanoparticles, specially engineered at the University of Florida, will in the future be able to target cancerous tumors and eliminate them, thus saving patients from chemotherapy that is toxic to the body.
The researchers used a well-known drug called Taxol for their experiments in cell cultures, since it is one of the most common chemotherapy drugs today (the entry from Wikipedia) and published their initial results in the scientific journal Small. Most of the time, Taxol causes negative side reactions since it passes through the body and damages both the cancer cells and healthy cells in its path.
The new nanoparticles, which deliver the drug, have been designed in such a way that they are able to deliver the drug only to the cancer cells, thus enabling targeted cancer treatment without harming the healthy cells. This is achieved by adding a vitamin derivative - folic acid - which cancer cells tend to consume in large quantities.
Since the nanoparticles also contain a fluorescent dye and a magnetic iron oxide core, their exact location can be located at any moment in the body and cells using optical imaging or an MRI device. This allows the doctor to examine how the tumor responds to said treatment.
The nanoparticles can also be prepared without attaching them to the drug, and then use them as a contrast agent for imaging the location of the cancer cells. If there is no cancer at the suspected site, the nanoparticles, which are biologically broken down in the body, will not bind to the body's tissues and will be broken down by the liver. The iron oxide core of the nanoparticles will serve as an additional source of iron, which is required for the body's normal activity.
"The uniqueness of our research lies in the fact that the nanoparticles have a dual role, both as a diagnostic material and as a medical material in biodegradable carriers suitable for the body," says the lead researcher.
The researcher has spent the last five years finding ways in which nanotechnology can be used to diagnose, detect and treat cancer and other infectious diseases, as part of the rapidly developing field of nanomedicine.
The mechanism of activity of the nanoparticles is as follows: cancer cells in the tumor area bind the new nanoparticles to them through cell receptors, which can be compared to "doors" or "docking stations" of the cells. After connecting to these receptors, the nanoparticles release their important cargo containing the iron oxide, the luminescent dye and the appropriate drugs and enable the dual function of diagnosis and treatment of the disease. "Although the results from the cell cultures are only preliminary, they are extremely encouraging," notes the lead researcher.
A relatively new chemistry approach, known as "click chemistry" was used to attach the target compound - folic acid - to the nanoparticles. With this approach, it is possible to easily and selectively connect particles to nanoparticles without receiving unwanted by-products. In addition, it allows the simple connection of other particles to the nanoparticles for accurate detection of certain tumors or other malignant conditions.
"Our research is an important step because it demonstrates the way to use nanotechnology not only for diagnosis but also for the treatment of cancer, even in its early stages," explains the researcher.
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Liron:
The idea of a "guided missile" or - more correctly - an "autonomous missile that receives a description of the targets and goes out to search for them by itself" is shared by the new technology and antibody-based technology, but it is important for a number of reasons.
One is, as I have already said - that it is better to have more than one weapon in the arsenal.
The second is that a more "engineering" process seems to be developing here - one that is better adapted both to mass creation and to integration with other tools. Part of this advantage is expressed in the successful way of combining with folic acid while taking advantage - not only of the internalization but also of the unique metabolism of the target cells.
The third is probably (this is something I don't know for sure and I would be happy if someone in the know would comment on it) that it is a type of material that does not come from animals and as a result the chance of causing reactions of rejection or allergy is lower.
Michael:
I understood your intention, but I still did not understand the innovation that we built immunotherapeutic particles based on engineered antibodies. Although antibodies are micron-sized molecules, their purpose is the same - the activity of a guided missile.
Is there a chance that our particles have a better penetration into the cells themselves? This is despite the fact that there are antibodies that are capable of endocytosis into cells.
The main problem with cancer is the difficulty in distinguishing between the normal cells of the body (which should not be harmed) and the cancerous cells. Therefore, the root of solving the cancer problem is finding the differences between a healthy cell and a cancerous cell and therefore finding a drug or a way that only affects cells with cancerous characteristics.
According to what is described in the article, the medicinal solution is more effective than those described by nanobots, in order to locate cancer cells and eliminate them. Because in the nanobot option, the nanobots themselves must be removed afterwards, unless they were supposed to remain in the body and locate cancer cells until death.
Liron:
What is the difference between you and me?
Probably in the fact that I actually know that despite the great resemblance to me - you are not superfluous.
How is the subject of the aforementioned article (nanoparticles) different from immunotherapy treatments using antibodies that attach toxins or different markers to them?
fresh:
Let others decide what good they themselves will do.
If you think it is possible to write a serious article on the topic you proposed - prepare such an article yourself.
If she is really serious - she will probably be published here as well.
It is better that you write an article about the potential risks involved in technological nano particles that travel in the human body, than the potential benefits.
It seems to me that this is already the third time that I have come across here a scientist with knowledge of this type of selective marking of cancer cells and thus their effective destruction.. each time a different method. It must move on.