A new tiny but deadly weapon against cancer
Wednesday 11 August 2010
Researchers are closer to using miniscule capsules 10,000 times smaller than a human hair as drug delivery devices to target cancer-causing agents within human cells. The breakthrough in cutting-edge technology at the University of Surrey uses carbon nanotubes (CNTs) - hollow cylinders made of carbon atoms - to deliver potentially life-saving drugs.
Then the cells would expel the nanotubes within 24 hours which would leave them undamaged.
The CNTs can be used to deliver pay-loads such as anti-cancer drugs precisely to tumours then leave its payload without causing stress to healthy cells. Researchers could find no evidence that the nanoparticles caused any damage by their transit in and out of human cells.
Johnjoe McFadden, Professor of Molecular Genetics and lead scientist for the research program, said: “This research shows that CNTs do not accumulate inside living cells so they can be used to deliver drugs or genes without causing any permanent harm. Although much still needs to be done, this is an essential step to developing CNTs as revolutionary therapeutic agents.”
Research has showed that CNTs, functionalised with Ribonucleic acid (RNA), and other payloads, can be ingested by living mammalian cells and then within 24 hours expelled without harming them. These studies point for the first time that nano-vehicles of CNT can be driven in and out of cells precisely, without accumulation and possible toxicological issues, if properly prepared, and applied.
Lead author of the paper, Vera Neves stated: “CNTs are made of carbon, the same material from which our cells are built. So searching for the tiny CNT in the cells is a classic needle in a haystack problem. We use a technique called Raman microscopy, which detects unique vibrations made only by CNTs to track the movement of these nano-vehicles through the healthy cells.’
In separate studies CNT nano-vehicles were functionalised with anti-cancer drug doxorubicin, and CEA antigen to precisely target colon cancer cells.
Professor Ravi Silva, Director of the Advanced Technology Institute at the University, and co-author commented: “Nanotechnology promises to develop revolutionary new treatments for diseases like cancer, diabetes or coronary heart disease. The hope is that customised nanoparticles such as CNT can be injected in the body where they will fix a defective gene or deliver a drug to a sick cell. In this study we show some of the fears associated with nano-toxicology can be mitigated against by carefully controlling the parameters and understanding the key issues in preparing nano-vehicles for theranostic applications.”
The work is part of larger EC-funded project (the CARBIO Marie Curie Research Network) to develop CNTs for biomedical application. This latest work, published in Advanced Functional Materials, shows for the first time that human cells expel nanotubes quite quickly so that by 24 hours, the nanoparticles have all gone.
The article is available from doi.org
Media enquiries: Howard Wheeler, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: 01483 686141 or E-mail: h.wheeler@surrey.ac.uk
Notes to Editors:
The University of Surrey is one of the UK’s leading professional, scientific and technological universities with a world class research profile and a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Ground-breaking research at the University is bringing direct benefit to all spheres of life – helping industry to maintain its competitive edge and creating improvements in the areas of health, medicine, space science, the environment, communications, defence and social policy. Programmes in science and technology have gained widespread recognition and it also boasts flourishing programmes in dance and music, social sciences, management and languages and law. In addition to the campus on 150 hectares just outside Guildford, Surrey, the University also owns and runs the Surrey Research Park, which provides facilities for 140 companies employing 2,700 staff.
The Sunday Times names Surrey as ‘The University for Jobs' which underlines the university’s growing reputation for providing high quality, relevant degrees.
Surrey is a member of the 1994 Group of 19 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience. www.1994group.ac.uk
Media Enquiries
Howard Wheeler, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 686141, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
