Description:
Reference Number: 1771
Background
Cancer is believed to account for 12% of deaths worldwide. This incidence is
increasing in Western countries, as the average age of the population
increases.
The University of Strathclyde has been undertaking research into
novel delivery systems for the latest drug treatments. Cisplatin, for example,
is used to treat a wide variety of human cancers but many cancer cells have, or
soon acquire, resistance to it. In addition to the acquired resistance problem,
there are also severe side effects associated with these drugs; due mostly to
their attack on all rapidly-dividing cells within the body.
Technology
A research team at the University of Strathclyde has successfully developed a
method for attaching anticancer drug molecules and targeting groups to metal
nanoparticles to provide significant therapeutic benefits. In Vitro studies
using Cisplatin nanoparticles demonstrated significantly better cytotoxicity
than with Cisplatin alone and an unusual ability to penetrate the cell nucleus –
offering enormous improvement over existing anticancer treatments.
Key Benefits
- Improved targeting of cancer cells, leading to reduced chemotherapy side
effects
- Better targeting provides higher cancer cell kill rates
- This, in turn, decreases the tendency to develop resistance
- In cells which have already acquired resistance, enhanced targeting helps
to overcome this
Markets and Applications
This approach allows a very much larger number of drug molecules to attach to
each nanoparticle, resulting in significantly higher concentrations of
chemotherapy molecules -and potentially the treatment of diseases other than
Cancer. This would allow for a faster treatment cycle and use by patients with
more advanced disease.
Nanoparticle-based delivery also enables
administration of these drugs to occur via a wide range of approaches -from
injection to inhalation. In addition to use with human patients, the technology
lends itself to veterinary applications.
Licensing and Development
The technology is protected by a patent application filed by the University
of Strathclyde as GB909435.0. Contact is welcomed from organisations interested
in developing, licensing or exploiting this technology.
For further information, please contact Research & Knowledge Exchange
Services:
e: rkes@strath.ac.uk t: 0141 548 3707 f: 0141 552
4409