Argonne, U of Chicago develop targeted cancer treatment using nanomaterials
Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE) Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in Argonne, Ill., and the University of Chicago's Brain Tumor Center have developed a way to target brain cancer cells using titanium dioxide nanoparticles bound to biological material. The nano-bio technology may eventually provide an alternative form of therapy that targets only cancer cells and does not affect normal tissue.
It is an example of how nano and biological interfacing can be used for biomedical application, according to Elena Rozhkova, scientist at ANL's Center for Nanoscale Materials. "We chose brain cancer because of its difficulty in treatment and its unique receptors," she said.
The scientists explained that the new therapy relies on a two-pronged approach. Titanium dioxide is a versatile photoreactive nanomaterial that is bonded with biomolecules. When linked to an antibody nanoparticles recognize and bind to cancer cells. Focused visible light is shined onto the affected region, and the localized titanium dioxide reacts to the light by creating free oxygen radicals that interact with the mitochondria in the cancer cells. Mitochondria act as cellular energy plants, and when free radicals interfere with their biochemical pathways, mitochondria receive a signal to start cell death.
"The significance of this work lies in our ability to effectively target nanoparticles to specific cell surface receptors expressed on brain cancer cells," said Maciej S. Lesniak, MD, director of neurosurgical oncology at the Brain Tumor Center. "We are now in a position to develop this exciting technology in preclinical models of brain tumors, with the hope of one day employing this new technology in patients."
X-ray fluorescence microscopy done at ANL's Advanced Photon Source also showed that the tumors' invadopodia, actin-rich micron scale protrusions that allow the cancer to invade surrounding healthy cells, can be also attacked by the titanium dioxide, the researchers said.
Thus far, tests have been done only on cells in a laboratory setting, but animal testing is planned for the next phase. "However," the authors wrote in this month’s Nano Letters, "results show an almost 100 percent cancer cell toxicity rate after six hours of illumination and 80 percent after 48 hours."
Rozhkova said that a proof of concept is demonstrated, and other cancers can be treated as well using different targeting molecules, but research is in the early stages.
Funding for this research was gained through the DoE's Office of Basic Energy Sciences, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, American Cancer Society (ACS) and Brain Research Foundation.
It is an example of how nano and biological interfacing can be used for biomedical application, according to Elena Rozhkova, scientist at ANL's Center for Nanoscale Materials. "We chose brain cancer because of its difficulty in treatment and its unique receptors," she said.
The scientists explained that the new therapy relies on a two-pronged approach. Titanium dioxide is a versatile photoreactive nanomaterial that is bonded with biomolecules. When linked to an antibody nanoparticles recognize and bind to cancer cells. Focused visible light is shined onto the affected region, and the localized titanium dioxide reacts to the light by creating free oxygen radicals that interact with the mitochondria in the cancer cells. Mitochondria act as cellular energy plants, and when free radicals interfere with their biochemical pathways, mitochondria receive a signal to start cell death.
"The significance of this work lies in our ability to effectively target nanoparticles to specific cell surface receptors expressed on brain cancer cells," said Maciej S. Lesniak, MD, director of neurosurgical oncology at the Brain Tumor Center. "We are now in a position to develop this exciting technology in preclinical models of brain tumors, with the hope of one day employing this new technology in patients."
X-ray fluorescence microscopy done at ANL's Advanced Photon Source also showed that the tumors' invadopodia, actin-rich micron scale protrusions that allow the cancer to invade surrounding healthy cells, can be also attacked by the titanium dioxide, the researchers said.
Thus far, tests have been done only on cells in a laboratory setting, but animal testing is planned for the next phase. "However," the authors wrote in this month’s Nano Letters, "results show an almost 100 percent cancer cell toxicity rate after six hours of illumination and 80 percent after 48 hours."
Rozhkova said that a proof of concept is demonstrated, and other cancers can be treated as well using different targeting molecules, but research is in the early stages.
Funding for this research was gained through the DoE's Office of Basic Energy Sciences, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, American Cancer Society (ACS) and Brain Research Foundation.