Engineering: Tumour seen absorbing nanoparticles

Nanoparticle drug delivery system shows positive results.

A nanoparticle drug delivery system to combat brain tumours has displayed promising results in a 3D cell culture model.
 
The model, designed by the University of Nottingham, was a joint effort between the Schools of Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences and Human Development, and will be featured in the September issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine.
 
Currently, difficulties exist in treating brain cancer, such as getting sufficient medication to the tumour and the selectivity of drug action.
 
Speaking about the new research, Dr Martin Garnett, Associate Professor of drug delivery at the School of Pharmacy said: “We are working on a number of new therapeutic approaches using nanoparticle drug delivery systems. However, understanding and developing these systems requires suitable models for their evaluation.”
 
Nanoparticles used in this study were prepared from a novel biodegradable polymer - glycerol adipate.
 
This polymer has been further modified to enhance incorporation of drugs and make the nanoparticles more effective.

3D culture models

Dr Terence Parker, Associate Professor in the School of Biomedical Sciences explained: “The interaction of tumour cells with brain cells varies between different tumours and different locations within the brain. Using 3-dimensional culture models is therefore important in ensuring that the behaviour of cells in culture is similar to that seen in real life”.
 
Cohesion between the contributors from many different disciplines was coordinated by Professor David Walker of the School of Human Development who co-founded the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Group at Nottingham.
 
He commented: “Understanding the biology of tumours is important if we are to develop effective new treatments. This work demonstrates how close co-operation between disciplines can help to push forward ideas which could lead to new clinical therapies.
 
Agreeing with Professor Walker, Dr Steve R. Goodman, Editor-in-Chief of Experimental Biology and Medicine, said: “The convergence of cancer cell biology and nanoscience, exemplified by this study, holds great promise for the future of brain tumour therapy."

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