Fluorescent Electrically Conductive Nanoparticles for Detection and Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Abstract
The Career Development Award will support the Principal Investigator s (PI s) progress in developing the latest cutting-edge materials to assist surgeons in treating metastatic colorectal cancer. The PI has expertise in the development of nanoparticles that can target and treat colorectal cancer. The PI s goal is to become an established investigator in the area of polymer nanoparticles for treatment of colorectal cancer. The Career Development Award will offer protected time for her to investigate colorectal cancer models and learn how to effectively implement the newly developed nanoparticle, both for fluorescence image-guided surgery in addition to therapy. The PI is a member of a surgical sciences department and has opportunities to observe clinical colorectal cancer cases and interact with surgeons to understand their challenges. The PI will build upon the results from the proposed research of the Career Development Award to secure future funding, including the potential for clinical trials. The career plan includes time for the PI to observe clinical cases of colorectal cancer and attend special seminars and coursework in the department of Cancer Biology both at Wake Forest University Health Sciences as well as at the National Cancer Institute. The PI has chosen a mentor with significant expertise in treating clinical cases of colorectal cancer, and he is readily available to help guide the PI in her career plan. With the guidance of her mentor, the PI envisions that the proposed nanoparticles could move into clinical trials within 5 years. Metastasis is the main reason for colorectal cancer deaths, and many metastatic lesions are too small and numerous to be surgically removed. Nanoparticles are very small materials. We have developed special polymer nanoparticles that generate heat when exposed to infrared light. The polymer particles that we propose are expected to be non-toxic, based on the published literature and our own preliminary studies, and the proposed animal models will help ensure patient safety when the physicians use the proposed technique. We propose development of new polymer nanoparticles with inherent fluorescence that can be targeted the surface of colorectal cancer cells so that their location can be visualized and they nanoparticles can generate heat at the surface of the micrometastasis in order to kill the tumor. The ability to target these nanoparticles to micrometastases is expected to benefit current surgical technique by detecting where near infrared light needs to be applied for generating localized tumor cell ablation. The goal of the proposed research is to target colorectal cancer cells that are resistant to chemotherapy in a model of disseminated peritoneal CRC. The proposed research is basic in nature, but it is being developed with an eye towards what surgeons will really use in patients. New ways to eliminate metastasis that can work in conjunction with surgical removal of larger abdominal metastases would provide great advancements for patient survival and quality of life. The goal of the proposed research is to demonstrate that new nanoparticles composed of non-toxic polymers can be used to concentrate mild heat near micrometastasis of colorectal cancer with enhanced detection. The proposed research will be significant for determining: (1) the reduction in tumor micrometastasis, (2) potential complication rates and safety of the proposed treatment, and (3) overall survival times. The results of the proposed research project will lead to new treatment options for military personnel suffering from metastatic colorectal cancer within the abdomen by offering surgeons an advanced technique for eliminating micrometastases of colorectal cancer. The benefits of using the proposed nanoparticles could be extended for use with other cancers that metastasize to the abdomen, such as ovarian, liver, pancreatic, mesothelial, appendiceal, uterus, and lung.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 04, 2016
- Source ID
- W81XWH1510408
Entities
People
- Nicole Levi
Organizations
- United States Army
- Wake Forest University