Tissue Engineering And Nanotheranostics

(Steven Felgate) #1

“9.61x6.69” b2815 Tissue Engineering and Nanotheranostics


Delivering Nanoparticles to Cancer Cells 221

If the EM charge of the nanoparticle is within a yet to be deter­


mined range, the particles will ignore normal cells. Osaka et al.^12


reported on the uptake of 40 nm magnetic nanoparticles into


breast cancer cells while not invading normal cells (2009).


Lin et al.^54 report on the use of carbon nanotubes for targeting


tumors in mice (2008) — it is claimed to be the first such application


with carbon nanoparticles. In 2011, Wang et al.^55 reported the use of


composite nanoparticles for targeting breast cancer cells.


As an alternative, along similar lines, is the targeting of tumor


blood vessels.^44


7. Discussion and Concluding Remarks


Success of the proposed methodology depends upon the following


presumptions:


(1) Cancer cells have supernumerary centrioles;


(2) These supernumerary centrioles form clusters which create an


EM field which is greater than that of normal cells;


(3) This increased EM field of cancer cells creates a biomarker, or


target, for magnetically charged nanoparticles;


(4) Magnetically charged nanoparticles can be developed which will


be attracted to the biomarker and thereby invade the cancer cells


while leaving normal cells unharmed;


(5) External control of magnetically charged nanoparticles can be used


to deliver toxins to cancer cells and/or to image a cancerous tumor.


Of all these presumptions, point 4 still requires development, and


point 2 requires quantification.


At this time, it appears that the most promising application of the


methodology is with aggressive forms of breast cancer, where the tumor


is close to the surface. In such instances, the nanoparticles can be


directed toward the tumor without prior injection into the blood stream.


This raises an additional area for development: How best to


administer the therapeutic nanoparticles?


All of these assertions and issues are likely to provide fertile areas


for research and development for the foreseeable future.

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