Penn State develops GPS nanoparticle platform for targeted cancer therapy delivery.
In a groundbreaking study published in ACS Nano, researchers from Penn State University have developed a revolutionary "GPS nanoparticle" platform that can precisely target cancer cells and deliver a therapeutic payload aimed at halting tumor growth and metastasis. Led by Professor Dipanjan Pan, the team designed these nanoparticles to home in on cancerous environments, releasing gene-editing tools specifically in those locations. This innovative approach holds promise for treating difficult-to-treat basal-like breast cancers, a subtype known for its aggressive nature and propensity for metastasis.
Basal-like breast cancers pose a significant challenge due to their lack of traditional therapeutic targets and rapid growth rate. Unlike other types of breast cancer, they are harder to detect and can spread quickly, leading to poor prognoses, especially in cases where the cancer is not caught early. To address this critical need for more effective treatments, the researchers developed a Trojan horse nanoparticle system. These nanoparticles are disguised with specially designed fatty molecules that mimic natural lipids, making them invisible to the immune system until they reach the acidic environment of a cancer cell.
The key to the nanoparticle's precision targeting lies in its zwitterionic lipids, which switch to a positive charge in the acidic tumor microenvironment, triggering the release of the therapeutic payload. To ensure that the nanoparticles selectively bind to basal-like breast cancer cells, the team attached epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EpCAM) known to interact with these specific cancer cells. This targeted approach minimizes the risk of off-target effects and immune responses, making it a safe and efficient delivery system for gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9.
Unlike traditional viral or non-viral delivery systems, the GPS nanoparticle platform offers a unique advantage with its context-responsive design, reducing the likelihood of unintended side effects on healthy cells. Through a series of experiments in human cell lines and mouse models, the researchers successfully demonstrated the system's ability to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 molecules to basal-like breast cancer cells, effectively knocking down the FOXC1 gene associated with metastasis.
The team's next steps include further testing the nanoparticle platform with the ultimate goal of translating this technology into clinical applications for treating basal-like breast cancers in humans. Additionally, there is a potential for customizing the nanoparticle platform to target other types of cancer or promote healing in different areas of the body, highlighting the versatility and broad applicability of this innovative approach.
The study, led by Professor Pan and his team of researchers from Penn State University, the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, and other institutions, was funded by various organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. This groundbreaking research represents a significant advancement in precision medicine and holds great promise for revolutionizing cancer treatment strategies in the future.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1037287
Basal-like breast cancers pose a significant challenge due to their lack of traditional therapeutic targets and rapid growth rate. Unlike other types of breast cancer, they are harder to detect and can spread quickly, leading to poor prognoses, especially in cases where the cancer is not caught early. To address this critical need for more effective treatments, the researchers developed a Trojan horse nanoparticle system. These nanoparticles are disguised with specially designed fatty molecules that mimic natural lipids, making them invisible to the immune system until they reach the acidic environment of a cancer cell.
The key to the nanoparticle's precision targeting lies in its zwitterionic lipids, which switch to a positive charge in the acidic tumor microenvironment, triggering the release of the therapeutic payload. To ensure that the nanoparticles selectively bind to basal-like breast cancer cells, the team attached epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EpCAM) known to interact with these specific cancer cells. This targeted approach minimizes the risk of off-target effects and immune responses, making it a safe and efficient delivery system for gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9.
Unlike traditional viral or non-viral delivery systems, the GPS nanoparticle platform offers a unique advantage with its context-responsive design, reducing the likelihood of unintended side effects on healthy cells. Through a series of experiments in human cell lines and mouse models, the researchers successfully demonstrated the system's ability to deliver CRISPR-Cas9 molecules to basal-like breast cancer cells, effectively knocking down the FOXC1 gene associated with metastasis.
The team's next steps include further testing the nanoparticle platform with the ultimate goal of translating this technology into clinical applications for treating basal-like breast cancers in humans. Additionally, there is a potential for customizing the nanoparticle platform to target other types of cancer or promote healing in different areas of the body, highlighting the versatility and broad applicability of this innovative approach.
The study, led by Professor Pan and his team of researchers from Penn State University, the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, and other institutions, was funded by various organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. This groundbreaking research represents a significant advancement in precision medicine and holds great promise for revolutionizing cancer treatment strategies in the future.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1037287
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