UC Davis Researchers Test "Tumor Glue" to Target Cancer

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Researchers at UC Davis have developed a novel cancer treatment platform using transformable nanoparticles that can home in on tumor sites, form a sticky nanofibrillar network, and then be loaded with drugs on demand. The team recently received a $3.1 million NIH grant to advance preclinical testing of this "tumor glue" approach, which they hope will allow for more precise and less toxic cancer therapies.

Why it matters

Current cancer treatments often have harsh side effects as they impact both cancerous and healthy cells. This new nanoparticle platform aims to selectively target tumors while sparing the rest of the body, potentially improving quality of life for patients undergoing treatment.

The details

The nanoparticles are engineered to morph into a sticky nanofibrillar network once they reach the tumor microenvironment. This web can remain at the tumor site for up to a week, allowing clinicians to "park" therapeutic payloads inside the tumor while the rest of the body clears the material in about two days. The team plans to use "click chemistry" to attach different treatments, from small-molecule drugs to immune-boosting proteins, to the tumor-anchored scaffold.

• The UC Davis team recently received a $3.1 million NIH R01 research grant to advance this work.
• The researchers have already published proof-of-concept studies showing the nanoparticles can shut down HER2 signaling and shrink tumors in mouse models.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The researchers plan to sharpen the technology's aim at cancers like non-small cell lung cancer, refine imaging tools to track the nanoparticles, and run detailed tests of toxicity and anti-tumor activity in preclinical models. They also intend to use the click-chemistry step to attach different treatments to the tumor-anchored scaffold.