Theranostics: therapy and diagnostics in one nanoparticle

A nanokiller for cancer cells has been created
ABC MagazineScientists from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have announced the creation of a unique nanoparticle, the movement of which can be tracked in real time using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and which is "trained" to track down cancer cells, label them with fluorescent dye and destroy them with high temperature.

This is one of the first creations from the field of theranostics – a developing field of medicine that combines therapy and diagnostics, when doctors use the same technology for both diagnosis and treatment of a disease during a general procedure.

So far, research is being conducted on laboratory cell cultures, but MRI makes it possible to use the technology on animals and humans.

One of the main issues of nanomedicine today is the bio–distribution of nanoparticles in the body, explains one of the co-authors of the study Naomi Halas (Naomi Halas). Non–invasive methods of monitoring these processes give chances for recognition by the FDA - in addition to the fact that MRI allows you to observe the treatment process.

When designing the "nanobomb", hollow nanoparticles were taken as a basis, to which a fluorescent dye was added, which warms up when irradiated with near-infrared (NIR) waves. Waves of this length are invisible and at not too high intensity are safe for humans, and most importantly, they are able to penetrate into tissues to a considerable depth, which allows you to "burn out" the tumor without surgery.

It was found that the radiation of dye molecules is 40-50 times stronger if there is a small gap of several nanometers between them and the surface of the nanoparticle. In this interval, the scientists placed a layer of iron oxide, which allows the nanoparticle to be tracked using MRI. Finally, the surface of the nanoparticles was coated with antibodies, with which the nanoparticles bind to the surface proteins of cancer cells.

Scientists hope that in a couple of years they will be able to start testing their invention on humans. Nanoparticles containing antibodies for a certain type of cancer cells will be injected into the patient's body. With the help of MRI, the doctor will be able to find out where the cancer is located, and then destroy it with the help of high temperature, observing the treatment process by the intensity of the glow in the infrared range.

Researchers are almost confident of success, especially since each component of future "cancer killers" individually has either already been approved by the FDA, or is at the approval stage, and has also been studied repeatedly in other studies.

Article by Rizia Bardhan et al. Nanoshells with Targeted Simultaneous Enhancement of Magnetic and Optical Imaging and Photothermal Therapeutic Response is published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

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