Nanotechnology Now

Our NanoNews Digest Sponsors







Heifer International

Wikipedia Affiliate Button


Home > Press > Combining Nanotubes and Antibodies for Breast Cancer 'Search and Destroy' Missions

Abstract:
Single-walled carbon nanotubes have been highly touted for their potential as novel delivery agents for cancer detection and therapeutic agents. Now, a team of investigators from six institutions have created a multifunctional carbon nanotube that can detect and destroy an aggressive form of breast cancer.

Combining Nanotubes and Antibodies for Breast Cancer 'Search and Destroy' Missions

Bethesda, MD | Posted on January 14th, 2010

HER2 is one of a family of genes that help regulate the growth and proliferation of human cells. Normal cells have two copies of HER2, but about 20 to 25 percent of breast cancers consist of cells have multiple copies of the gene, resulting in the overproduction of a HER2-encoded protein that is associated with particularly fast growing and difficult to treat tumors. About 40,000 women in the United States are diagnosed annually with this form of breast cancer.

In a paper published in the journal BMC Cancer, the team led by Huixin He, Ph.D., of Rutgers University, and Yan Xiao, Ph.D., of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), described how it created the new dual-purpose nanostructure by attaching an anti-HER2 antibody to short carbon nanotubes. But rather than use a human anti-HER2 antibody, the investigators used an antibody raised in chickens. The distinct genetic differences between avian and human species enabled the chicken antibody to react strongly with the target protein expressed on tumor cells while ignoring normal cells with other human proteins.

The investigators then took advantage of two unique optical properties of carbon nanotubes to detect and then destroy HER2 breast cancer cells. Near-infrared laser light at a wavelength of 785 nanometers reflects intensely off the nanotubes, and this strong signal is easily detected by a technique called Raman spectroscopy. Increase the laser light's wavelength to 808 nanometers and it will be absorbed by the nanotubes, incinerating them and anything to which they're attached—in this case, the HER2 tumor cells.

The experiment described in the BMC Cancer paper was conducted in laboratory cell cultures. Using the HER2 antibody-nanotube complex to selectively identify and target HER2 tumors resulted in a nearly 100 percent eradication of the cancer cells while nearby normal cells remained unharmed. In comparison, there only was a slight reduction in cancer cells for cultures treated with anti-HER2 antibody alone.

The next step for the research team is to conduct mouse trials of the antibody-nanotube complex to see if the dramatic cancer-killing ability works in animals as well as it does in the lab. In a separate but related project, the team hopes to use a nanotube-antibody combination against another tumor cell protein, MUC4, to treat pancreatic cancer.

The research, which is detailed in a paper titled, "Anti-Her2IgY antibody-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes for detection and selective destruction of breast cancer cels," was funded under an interagency agreement between NIST and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Along with scientists from NIST and Rutgers, the research team included members from Cornell University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, NCI and Translabion, a private company located in Clarksburg, Md. This paper is available at no charge at the journal's Web site.

View paper here dx.doi.org/doi:10.1186/1471-2407-9-351

####

About NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer
To help meet the goal of reducing the burden of cancer, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is engaged in efforts to harness the power of nanotechnology to radically change the way we diagnose, treat and prevent cancer.

The NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer is a comprehensive, systematized initiative encompassing the public and private sectors, designed to accelerate the application of the best capabilities of nanotechnology to cancer.

Currently, scientists are limited in their ability to turn promising molecular discoveries into benefits for cancer patients. Nanotechnology can provide the technical power and tools that will enable those developing new diagnostics, therapeutics, and preventives to keep pace with today’s explosion in knowledge.

For more information, please click here

Copyright © NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark:
Delicious Digg Newsvine Google Yahoo Reddit Magnoliacom Furl Facebook

Related News Press

News and information

Beneq’s comprehensive industrial Thin Film Coating Services shorten time to market June 18th, 2013

Research and industry frontrunners gather in Dublin at the EuroNanoForum, Europe’s largest nanotechnology conference June 18th, 2013

Imec presents 4K2K CMOS image sensor together with Panasonic: The co-developed imager sensor chip targets high speed, high resolution imaging applications such as next generation HDTV June 18th, 2013

Which qubit my dear? New method to distinguish between neighbouring quantum bits June 18th, 2013

Possible Futures

Space Solar Power: Key to a Livable Planet Earth June 10th, 2013

Global Nanotechnology Drug Delivery Market 2012-2016 June 10th, 2013

Nanorobot tetanus treatment animation June 9th, 2013

New horizons to drive the future of Medicine: European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine intends to lead the domain June 8th, 2013

Nanotubes/Buckyballs

Unzipped nanotubes unlock potential for batteries: Rice University lab combines graphene nanoribbons with tin oxide for improved anodes June 13th, 2013

The Diabetes ‘Breathalyzer’: Pitt chemists demonstrate sensor technology that could detect and monitor diabetes through breath analysis alone June 10th, 2013

Los Alamos catalyst could jumpstart e-cars, green energy: The new material has the highest oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity in alkaline media of any non-precious metal catalyst developed to date June 4th, 2013

Even with Defects, Graphene is Strongest Material in the World: New Study Reveals Strength of CVD Graphene May 31st, 2013

Nanomedicine

Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013

Study Shows How the Nanog Protein Promotes Growth of Head and Neck Cancer June 18th, 2013

Production of Polyaniline Biosensors Modified with Conductive Polymer Composites June 18th, 2013

European Technology Platform for Nanomedicine and Nanomed2020 European Consortium Launch the Nanomedicine Award June 17th, 2013

Announcements

Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013

Study Shows How the Nanog Protein Promotes Growth of Head and Neck Cancer June 18th, 2013

New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013

Production of Polyaniline Biosensors Modified with Conductive Polymer Composites June 18th, 2013

Nanobiotechnology

Iranian Scientists Produce Dynamometer for Nanoparticles, Biocells June 15th, 2013

Shape of nanoparticles points the way toward more targeted drugs: A collaboration of scientists at Sanford-Burnham and the University of California, Santa Barbara, finds that rod-shaped particles, rather than spherical particles, appear more effective at adhering to cells June 10th, 2013

Catching individual molecules in a million with optical antennas inside nano-boxes June 10th, 2013

Whispering light hears liquids talk: University of Illinois researchers build first-ever bridge between optomechanics and microfluidics June 7th, 2013

NanoNews-Digest
The latest news from around the world, FREE







  Premium Products
NanoNews-Custom
Only the news you want to read!
 Learn More
NanoTech-Transfer
University Technology Transfer & Patents
 Learn More
NanoStrategies
Full-service, expert consulting
 Learn More












ASP
Nanotechnology Now Featured Books




NNN

The Hunger Project








abbigliamento uomo
Computer Accessories
© Copyright 1999-2013 7th Wave, Inc. All Rights Reserved PRIVACY POLICY :: CONTACT US :: STATS :: SITE MAP :: ADVERTISE