Anti-cancer nanodisks
A new promising tool for combating malignant neoplasms
Krasnoyarsk scientists have analyzed a worldwide array of scientific papers on magnetic nanodiscs. The researchers note that a new generation of nanoparticles can help in the microsurgical treatment of cancer. Nanodisks are more effective than conventional nanoparticles in destroying cancer cells. Based on the data obtained, Krasnoyarsk researchers selected the characteristics and created disks for a nanoscalpel capable of "burning out" cancer cells. The results of the review study are published in the journal Nanomaterials (Zamay et al., Magnetic Nanodiscs–A New Promising Tool for Microsurgery of Malignant Neoplasms).
Currently, the main methods of treating malignant neoplasms are surgical resection and radiation therapy. The main drawback of these manipulations is that they damage healthy tissues surrounding the tumor. This approach is dangerous, especially in the treatment of brain tumors. Therefore, a new method is needed to remove tumor tissues with minimal damage to humans.
A team of Krasnoyarsk scientists, which included researchers from the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center SB RAS, analyzed a worldwide array of scientific publications on the use of nanoparticles and nanodiscs in the treatment of malignant neoplasms. Scientists have come to the conclusion that magnetic nanodiscs are the most promising for microsurgery of malignant neoplasms and represent a new generation of particles that can solve biomedical problems in the treatment of cancer.
Removal of tumor cells using nanoscale particles is one of the most promising areas in cancer therapy. Such a nanoscale surgical instrument should recognize tumor cells and destroy them under the influence of external forces, for example, a magnetic field. Magnetic nanoparticles are commonly used for such magnetomechanical destruction of tumor cells. They heat up to critical temperatures for the tumor or mechanically destroy cancer cells under the influence of a magnetic field.
However, as scientists note, recent studies have shown that magnetic nanodisks are more promising for the magnetomechanical destruction of tumor cells. Such disks consist of two metal layers of inert metals, between which there is a magnetic material, which gives them unique properties. They have a high degree of magnetization and no residual magnetization after the magnetic field is turned off. These properties facilitate the remote control of particles and make discs ideal tools for cancer cell therapy.
In order for the nanodisks that have entered the bloodstream not to disperse throughout the body, they must be targeted at tumor cells. Such guides are DNA or RNA aptamers that recognize tumor cells and bind to them. They provide targeted delivery of nanoparticles to the tumor site and their selective action. Aptamers also increase the biocompatibility of disks and reduce their toxicity.
The low toxicity and biocompatibility of magnetic nanodiscs associated with aptamers is a prerequisite for creating a nanoscalpel for tumor microsurgery. Such an instrument should have three main properties: be miniature, nano- or micro-sized; be able to be remotely controlled and be specific only to tumor cells. Structures made of magnetic nanodiscs covered with aptamers for targeted delivery have all the stated requirements. Scientists believe that such a nanoscalpel will be a safe tool for the treatment and visualization, in case of additional modification of disks or aptamers with labels or dyes, of malignant neoplasms and will help solve the problem of targeted treatment of cancer patients under visual control.
"The success of cancer treatment is determined by the effectiveness of removing all cancer cells from the body. It is necessary to develop a surgical instrument that works on the principle of "find and neutralize". It can be a nanoscalp based on nanodiscs. We conducted a review of all available materials on this issue in order to understand what characteristics nanodisks should have for cancer cell therapy. After that, we selected the optimal sizes, magnetic moments of the disks and the thickness of all layers. Already now we have developed and tested prototypes of nanodiscs.
Preliminary results show that they work effectively and selectively destroy cancer cells. Experiments were carried out on cell cultures and on mice. At first, we thought that when activating the nanodisc, neighboring cells surrounding the tumor could be affected, but this did not happen. The right cell is destroyed, and the neighboring healthy ones continue to grow. Work in this direction will continue," said one of the co–authors of the work Anna Kichkailo, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Leading researcher at the FITC KNC SB RAS.
The work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project No. 20-02-00696) and the Russian Science Foundation (Project No. 19-74-00099).
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