Multi-functional nanoparticles for cancer therapy

Yong Zhang
Division of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore

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     Last modified: February 15, 2006

Abstract
The attraction of an immunological strategy in cancer treatment is the possibility of targeting drugs/therapeutic agents specifically to tumor and not normal cells. Many strategies developed in recent years all involve the targeting of immune cells to tumors because the principal mechanism in tumor immunity is the killing of tumor cells by immune cells. In this study, we developed polymer nanoparticles as a targeting and delivery system, by conjugating both tumor targeting agent and chemokines to the nanoparticles, to attract immune cells to tumor cells. Biodegradable chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating quantum dots were prepared, with suitable surface modification to immobilize both tumor targeting agent and chemokine on their surfaces. The specific targeting of nanoparticles to both immune cells and tumor cells and interactions between these cells was visualized using the luminescent nanoparticles.