Nanocarrier Designed to Target Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells

A novel nanostructure can, because of its dual-surface structure, serve as an improved “all-in-one tool” in the fight against cancer.

The nanostructure was developed by a team of international researchers, including those at the University of Cincinnati (UC; OH, USA), and has the potential to improve all-in-one detection, diagnoses, and drug-delivery treatment of cancer cells.

The first-of-its-kind nanostructure is remarkable because it can carry a range of cancer-fighting substance on its double-sided “Janus” surface and within its porous interior. Because of its unique structure, the nanocarrier can do all of the following: (1) Transport cancer-specific detection nanoparticles and biomarkers to a site within the body, e.g., the prostate or the breast. This promises earlier diagnosis than is possible with current applications. (2) Attach fluorescent marker materials to illuminate specific cancer cells, so that they are easier to find for treatment, whether drug delivery or surgery. (3) Deliver anticancer drugs for pinpoint targeted treatment of cancer cells, which should result in few drug side effects. Currently, a cancer treatment such as chemotherapy affects not only cancer cells but healthy cells as well, leading to serious and often incapacitating side effects.

This research’s findings were presented on October 30, 2013, at the annual Materials Science & Technology Conference in Montreal (QC, Canada). The Janus nanostructure is unusual in that, normally, these structures (much smaller than a single cell) have limited surface. This makes is difficult to carry multiple components, e.g., both cancer detection and drug-delivery materials. The Janus nanocomponent, on the other hand, has functionally and chemically distinct surfaces to allow it to carry multiple components in a single assembly and function in an intelligent manner.

“In this effort, we’re using existing basic nanosystems, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, iron oxides, silica, quantum dots, and polymeric nanomaterials in order to create an all-in-one, multidimensional, and stable nanocarrier that will provide imaging, cell targeting, drug storage and intelligent, controlled drug release,” said UC’s Dr. Donglu Shi, adding that the nanocarrier’s potential is currently greatest for cancers that are close to the body’s surface, such as breast and prostate cancer.

If such nanotechnology can soon become the standard for cancer detection, it promises earlier, more rapid, and more effective diagnosis at lower cost than current technology. The most common technology used today in cancer diagnosis are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); positron emission tomography (PET); and computed tomography (CT) imaging, however, they are expensive and time-consuming to use.

Furthermore, when it comes to drug delivery, nanotechnology such as the Janus structure would better regulate the drug dose, since that dose would be targeted to cancer cells. In this way, anticancer drugs could be used much more effectively, which would lower the total amount of drug administered.

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