1. Nanotechnology in Cancer Treatment
Fundamentals of Nanotechnology: From Synthesis to Self-Assembly
Nanotechnology in Cancer Treatment
Amila.A.Dissanayake
Department of Chemistry
Oklahoma State University
CHEM 6420
Fall 2007

2. Background and Introduction
Cancer
Development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably which have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue 1
Chemotherapy
Use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells.
Work by disrupting the growth of cancer cells 2
Nonspecificity
Toxicity
Adverse side effects
Poor solubility

3. Cancer Nanotechnology
interdisciplinary research, cutting across the disciplines of 3
Biology
Chemistry
Engineering
Physics
Medicine
Nanoparticles such as
Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs)
Ion oxide nanocrystals
Carbon nanotubes
Polymeric nanoparticles
Unique Properties
Structural
Optical
Magnetic

4. Molecular Cancer Imaging (QDs)
Tumor Targeting and Imaging
Emission wavelengths are size tunable (2 nm-7 nm) 4
High molar extinction coefficients
Conjugation with copolymer improves biocompatibility, selectivity and decrease cellular toxicity 5
size-tunable optical properties of ZnS-capped CdSe QDs

5. Correlated Optical and X-Ray Imaging
High resolution sensitivity in detection of small tumors 6
x-rays provides detailed anatomical locations
Polymer-encapsulated QDs
No chemical or enzymatic degradations
QDs cleared from the body by slow filtration or excretion out of the body

6. Early Cancer Detection
Early cancer detection by carbon nanotubes
Oligonucleotide modified carbon nanotubes as the high-resolution atomic force microscopy tips to determine targeted DNA sequences
can detect change in single base mismatch in a kilobase size DNA strains 7
Nanowires
Metallic , semiconductor or polymer composite nanowires functionalized by ligands such as antibodies and oligonucleotides
capturing the targeted molecules the Nanowires changes the conductivity 8
Detect up to 10 X concentrations

7. Targeted Cancer Therapy
Active targeting
Conjugating the nanoparticle to the targeted organ, tumor or individual cells for preferential accumulation 9
dendrimers are synthetic, spherical, highly branched and monodispersed macromolecules
Biodegradable polyester dendrimers
Intracellular release of drug component
Tunable architectures and molecular weights to leads to optimize tumor accumulation and drug delivery.
Polyester dendrimer based on 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid

8. Nanoparticle Drugs
Designed by encapsulating, covalently attaching or adsorbing therapeutic and diagnostic agents to the nanoparticle 10
Recently Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) approved AbraxaneTM an albumin
-paclitaxel (TaxolTM) nanoparticle
drug for the breast cancer treatment.
Nanoparticle structure was designed
by linking hydrophobic cancer drug
(Taxol) and tumor-targeting ligand
to hydrophilic and biodegradable polymer.
Delivers 50% higher dose of active
agent TaxolTM to the targeted tumor
areas.

9. Feature Directions
The first major direction in design and development of nanoparticles are monofunctional, dual functional, tri functional and multiple functional probes.
Bioconjugated QDs with both targeting and imaging functions will be useful in targeted tumor imaging and molecular profiling applications.
Consequently nanoparticles with three functional groups could be designed for simultaneous imaging and therapy with targeting.
The second direction is to study nanoparticle distribution, metabolism, excretion and pharmacodynamics in in vivo animal modals. These investigations will be very impotent in the development and design of nanoparticles for clinical applications in cancer treatment.

10. Reference
1) Hahn, W. C.; Weinberg, R. A. Nat. Rev. Cancer, 2002, 2, 331–341.
2) Liotta, L.; Petricoin, E. Nat. Rev Genet, 2000, 1, 48–56.
3) Henglein, A.; Chem. Rev. 1989, 89, 1861–1873.
4) Alivisatos, P.; Nat. Biotechnol, 2004, 22, 47–52.
5) Alivisatos, A .P.; Gu, W. W.; Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng. 2005, 7, 55–76.
6) Golub, T .R.; Slonim, D. K.; Tamayo, P.; Huard, C.; Gaasenbeek, M.; Science, 1999, 286, 531–537.
7) Woolley, A. T.; Guillemette, C.; Cheung, C. L.; Housman, D. E.; Lieber, C. M.; Nat.Biotechnol, 2000, 18, 760–763.
8) Hahm, J.; Lieber, C. M.; Nano Lett, 2004, 4, 51–54.
9) Patri, A. K.; Curr. Opin. Chem. Biol, 2002, 6,
10) Andresen, T. L.; Prog. Lipid Res, 2005, 44,