Strathclyde: Chemotherapy targeting system using nanoparticles

Licensing opportunity

Researchers at Strathclyde University, Scotland have developed a method for attaching marketed anticancer drug molecules and targeting groups to metal nanoparticles, improving delivery and providing therapeutic benefits.

In vitro studies using Cisplatin linked to nanoparticles demonstrated significantly better cytotoxicity than with Cisplatin alone. The product also showed an unusual ability to penetrate the cell nucleus, which the researchers says could offer over improvements over existing formulations.

The nanoparticles improve the targeting of cancer cells, leading to reduced chemotherapy side effects and higher cancer cell kill rates. This, in turn, decreases the tendency to develop drug resistance

More, enhanced targeting helps to override cells’ acquired resistance to chemotherapy.

Using the technique, a much larger number of drug molecules can be attached to each nanoparticle, resulting in significantly higher concentrations of chemotherapy molecules. The approach could also be used to deliver other drugs and treat other diseases.

Nanoparticle-based delivery enables administration of these drugs via injection and inhalation. The university is looking for organisations that are interested in developing, licensing or exploiting this technology.