novel nanoparticles with potential for enhanced deep tumor therapy
Researchers Dr. Yansong Feng and Prof. Hong Zhang at the Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences at the University of Amsterdam have designed and synthesized novel multi-layered, multi-functional nanoparticles (NPs) that enable a combination of radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy for deep cancer tissue. An initial pre-clinical evaluation of the particles has demonstrated their therapeutic potential. A patent is pending, and the university is now seeking partners for further development or licensing.
The novelty of the NPs is that they enable radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy to be combined while using only X-rays. The particles also facilitate imaging of deep tissue, allowing for the image-guided targeting of the combined therapy.
In photodynamic therapy, visible light is used to activate photosensitizers that release radical oxygen species to destroy cancer cells. It attacks different parts of a cancer cell compared to conventional radiotherapy using X-rays. The combined use of both therapies enhances the destruction of tumorous tissue and often reduces the required X-ray dose. However, because photodynamic therapy is triggered by light, it is difficult to use it to treat cancer tissue located deep inside the body. To do so requires an invasive procedure such as endoscopy using an optical fiber. With X-rays there’s no such problem. They easily penetrate the body and are focused in such a way that they can do their devastating work at the tumor site.
By designing NPs that are able to emit visible light upon radiation with X-rays, the researchers have now found a way to apply photodynamic therapy at deep locations without invasive procedures.
The NP consists of a core surrounded by two outer layers. The outermost layer is capable of scintillation—a process that converts X-rays into visible light and thus enables photodynamic therapy at any location accessible by radiation therapy. The second layer is a buffer layer that energetically isolates the scintillating layer from the NP core. In the core itself, the researchers implemented another important therapy-enhancing feature. It is capable of upconversion luminescence which means it can change the frequency of light. The researchers tuned the upconversion in such a way that the NP emits a red visible light upon illumination with near infrared (NIR) radiation or X-rays. In this way they have effectively brought about the possibility of image-guided therapy. On illumination with NIR, which has a relatively long penetration depth, the particles light up in a strong red color and thus reveal the location of the tumor. The core continues to emit red light during radiotherapy using X-rays, albeit at a lower intensity. The emitted red light does not interfere with the photodynamic therapy.
As a proof of principle, the researchers studied the performance of the NPs in cancer treatment studies with cell cultures (in vitro) and mice (in vivo). This provided a clear indication of the safety and therapeutic potential of the particles.
Date: March 15, 2022
Source:https://nano-magazine.com/news/2022/3/10/novel-nanoparticles-with-potential-for-enhanced-deep-tumor-therapy