Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Xu and his group 285 demonstrated a process using IOMNPs with conjugated
specific antibodies for the capture and separation of tumor cells in fresh whole
blood. The amphiphilic polymer coated 30 nm IOMNPs were modified with
antibodies against human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (anti-HER2 or
anti-HER2/neu) forming the IO-Ab. The IO-Ab captured and separated 73.6%
( N = 5, enrichment of 84%) of SK-BR3 cells that were spiked in 1 mL of fresh
human whole blood. 285 The IO-Ab preferentially captured the SK-BR3 cells
over the normal cells found in blood due to the high level of HER2/neu receptor
on the cancer cell surfaces exhibiting 1:10,000,000 enrichment of cancer cells
over normal cells in the presence of a magnetic field gradient of 100 T/m. 285
This is a very promising strategy for the diagnosis and treatment at the early
stages of cancer when only a few CTCs are found in the blood that the current
methods cannot detect.
7.8 DESIGN TRENDS FOR INDIVIDUALIZED MEDICINE
The new NMs systems in development for nanopharmacological applications
contain active targeting molecules aside from the chemotherapeutic payloads.
These molecules are used to improve the specific function of the NPs as well as
to enhance their ability for gene delivery, immunotherapy, and imaging. Target-
ing materials for NMs in gene delivery are important so that repair of damaged
nucleotides can be immediately carried out at the desired locations. Targeting
materials are desired in nanoimmunotherapy so that the immune system can
be modulated at the site where the disease most need the immune modulation.
Finally, targeting molecules are desired in the contrast agents so that the NMs
can be delivered and accumulated at the site where the diseased tissue needs to
be visually located. All these are applications of the NMs in nanopharmacol-
ogy both for the delivery of desired treatment at well as for the measurement
of the degree of treatment. The NPs have revolutionized pharmacology in the
sense that now there is hope that chemotherapeutic agents can be brought to the
desired tissue as well as be detected whether it performs the desired treatment
or not.
The specificity of the nanopharmacologically relevant NMs are ensured
by the discovery of various targeting molecules which are now a part of our
vast knowledge in science and medicine. A few of the most commonly used
targeting molecules include cancer biomarkers (e.g. Her2, EGFR, VEGF,
integrin ανβ3,PSMA, CD20), inflammatory biomarkers (e.g. Eselectin,
ICAM1,VCAM1, IL-12), apoptosis markers, and many others. A molecular spe-
cific targeting molecule used for in vivo imaging was provided by Weissleder
et al. used monocrystalline IO functionalized with antimyosin Fab fragments to
detect myocardial infarcts in rats. 290
Nowadays, because many NMs have been tested for biocompatibility and
for delivery functions, attention and effort has been directed toward the ratio-
nal design of targeting moiety attachment. 291 The knowledge that NMs can
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