Intracellular Nanoparticle Aggregation as a Mechanism for Inducing Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells
Abstract
The current paradigm of drug delivery using nanotechnology has been focused on coupling chemotherapeutic molecules to nanoparticulate delivery systems. In this work, we propose that pH-triggered aggregation alone of nanoparticles (that are non-toxic when not aggregated) can induce death in breast cancer cells. We hypothesize that non-toxic, protein nanoparticles, when internalized by endocytosis and triggered to aggregate inside breast cancer cells, will be cytotoxic to them. We will examine (a) the extent to which pH-induced intracellular aggregation is cytotoxic, and (b) whether coupling a chemotherapeutic drug to a pH-responsive protein nanoparticle yields synergistic effects on the toxicity. Although this was a Concept Award which only funded one year of proposed research, a one-year, no-cost extension has been granted to complete the remaining tasks. This current report reflects the one-year update report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA542536
Entities
People
- Szu-Wen Wang
Organizations
- University of California, Irvine