A promising start for new anticancer drug

ScienceDaily (Sep. 3, 2012) ? Spanish researchers have developed on a nanometric scale a new drug that combines photothermia and chemotherapy to help fight cancer.

Until now, researchers have applied this new drug on human glioma cell cultures in the laboratory. The results are particularly interesting for the treatment of skin cancer (melanoma) and solid tumors of the nervous system such as gliomas. The work was coordinated by Professor Eduardo Fern?ndez Jover (Miguel Hern?ndez University of Elche) and Pablo Botella, researcher at the Institute of Chemical Technology of Valencia.

The new drug comprises hybrid particles containing clusters of gold nanoparticles protected by a covering of porous silica which incorporates molecules of an antitumor drug (camptothecin). The gold nanoclusters have photothermal activity, absorbing the light generated by a biomedical laser. Pablo Botella explains that while organic tissues are virtually transparent to this radiation, its absorption by the gold nanoclusters causes a large local temperature increase. "When this occurs within a cancer cell, the high internal stress leads to its destruction."

The accumulation of these nanoparticles in cancer cells is greatly favoured by the increase of vascular permeability that occurs at a tumor level. Furthermore the release of chemotherapeutic agents transported inside the porous cover of the particles, eliminates those malignant cells that have not been reached by the laser. "This ensures much greater effectiveness than traditional therapy, and the absence of side effects from the antitumor drug in other tissues," says Professor Eduardo Fern?ndez.

"The study has completed its initial phase conducted on cell cultures and, currently, there are plans to develop the next preclinical stage on animal models of skin cancer and gliomas. However, it is still early days to start on humans," the researchers conclude.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Asociaci?n RUVID.

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Journal Reference:

1. Pablo Botella, ?lida Ortega, Manuel Quesada, Roque F. Madrigal, Carlos Muniesa, Antonio Fimia, Eduardo Fern?ndez, Avelino Corma. Multifunctional hybrid materials for combined photo and chemotherapy of cancer. Dalton Transactions, 2012; 41 (31): 9286 DOI: 10.1039/C2DT30381G

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/Xe4uf3nMUj4/120903142953.htm

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