Theranostic Modulations Push the Cancer-Treatment Envelope

Intratumoral distribution and retention of theranostic particles can be improved by controlling protein adsorption to advance cancer management

A major challenge in tumor treatment is the lack of homogenous drug distribution within the tumor mass. Nanomedicine involving direct administration of nanomaterials into the bloodstream has the advantage of accelerated distribution within the bloodstream with the concomitant pitfall of expeditious clearance by the kidney, spleen, and liver. Carly Filgueira, PhD, assistant professor of nanomedicine and cardiovascular surgery at Houston Methodist circumvented this challenge by intratumoral injections of highly concentrated nanoformulations and demonstrated a nine-day retention without significant accumulation in other organs.

Carly Filgueira, PhD, assistant professor of nanomedicine

Specifically, Filgueira investigated the biodistribution and retention of passivated gold nanoparticles in an in vivo murine model of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Study results using computed tomography and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (published in Pharmaceutics in 2021), demonstrated that surface passivation of the gold nanoparticles determines the extent of their cellular uptake and intratumoral distribution. Nanoformulations carrying drugs can increase the efficacy of treatment by enhancing tumor exposure to the therapeutic agent. Refining these strategies for controlling and optimizing the surface passivation of nanoparticles to further enhance tumor uptake and distribution will push the envelope on successful cancer treatment.

Rossana Terracciano, Aobo Zhang, E Brian Butler, Danilo Demarchi, Jason H Hafner, Alessandro Grattoni, Carly S Filgueira. Effects of Surface Protein Adsorption on the Distribution and Retention of Intratumorally Administered Gold Nanoparticles. Pharmaceutics. 2021 Feb 5;13(2):216. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13020216. This research was funded by collaborative seed funding from Rice University and the Houston Methodist Research Institute (J.H.H. and C.S.F.), Golfers Against Cancer (A.G., E.B.B. and C.S.F.), and funds from Houston Methodist Research Institute (C.S.F.).

Abanti Chattopadhyay, PhD

October 2022

Share this story

Precision Medicine

Researchers identify a novel immunotherapy target to combat glioblastomas

Houston Methodist researchers have used advanced microfluidic technology to fingerprint different types of cells in glioblastoma. Their analysis has revealed a protein that could serve as a potential immunotherapy target for one of the deadliest cancers.

Read now

Precision Medicine

Jumpstarting dysfunctional regulatory T cells into action could help treat Parkinson’s disease

Houston Methodist researchers show that dysfunctional regulatory T cells are a hallmark of neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s disease. However, an ex vivo activation and expansion could restore the immunosuppression of these cells and provide a viable treatment strategy to combat chronic inflammation.

Read now

Share this story