Research

Nanotheranostics based on magneto-responsive materials

Code:

J1-7302

Range:

01. January 2016 - 31. December 2018

Range:

1,63 FTE

Leader:

Petra Kocbek

Field:

1-09 Natural sciences and Mathematics - Pharmacy

Abstract:

Various types of cancers represent a great challenge to the health care system nowadays, since 3 million people are diagnosed for cancer annually in Europe. The efficacy of available anticancer medicines and therapeutic approaches is limited and often associated with serious side effects due to unspecific drug distribution in a human body. This problem can be prevented or limited with the incorporation of drugs into advanced drug delivery systems. Besides improved disease treatment a great effort is also put in the research of new methods and techniques, which would allow early detection of disease i.e. the development of efficient diagnostics. The research in theranostics for the application in cancer treatment is very intensive in the last decade. The theranostics are composed of a diagnostic (e.g. iron oxide nanoparticles) and therapeutic component. They allow simultaneous therapy and diagnostics or monitoring of disease progress. The development of such systems usually requires the use of novel nanotechnological approaches. Many examples of theranostics based on polymer materials, as well as some examples of nanotheranostics based on inorganic materials, such as mesoporous silica, have been reported in literature. Those systems are chemically and thermally stable, biocompatible and enable controlled release of incorporated drugs. All these characteristics make them attractive for drug delivery. Primary goal of the project is development of the general platform for the preparation of advanced nanotheranostics for cancer treatment based on joint efforts from the materials science and pharmaceutical nanotechnology. The research will be based on the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Due to their poor magnetic responsiveness in the magnetic field gradient, superparamagnetic nanoparticles have to be assembled into superparamagnetic nanoparticle clusters (SNCs). Due to increased volume of magnetic phase the clusters become magnetically responsive and form various hierarchical nanostructures in optimal magnetic fields, having a great potential for the preparation of innovative magneto-responsive nanomaterials. Besides magnetic guidance as an important feature of SNCs, they enable also the visualisation of the drug delivery system with the magnetic resonance imaging, since the magnetic nanoparticles are good contrast agent. The SNCs will be assembled into chain-like structures in the presence of external magnetic field and fixated in the silica matrix. As a result of the assembly process the innovative multifunctional nanomaterial, i.e. magnetic nanochains (MNCs) will be developed. Furthermore, the development of a method, which would enable the formation of hollow compartments inside the MNCs suitable for further drug loading, will be a great scientific challenge. Similar methods for the preparation of hollow MNCs as potential drug delivery systems have not been introduced in the literature so far. The innovative approache in the project will also be the method for model drug loading into the hollow MNCs as well as their surface modification, aiming to achieve the controlled drug release. The development of the nanotheranostic based on the magneto-responsive nanomaterials will be divided into four work packages (WP): WP1. Development of the MNCs preparation method WP2. Preparation of the nanotheranostics based on MNCs WP3. Physicochemical and technological evaluation of the MNCs WP4. Biological evaluation of the MNCs in vitro The primary goal of the project will be new knowledge on the synthesis and characterization of novel magneto-responsive nanostructures and design of their properties for application in biomedicine. The understanding of interactions between the MNCs and cells, including the cell response to the MNCs, will be important for ensuring nanomaterials safety. We believe the presented concept will open new horizons for further development of nanotheranostics based on the MNCs.