Stimulus-responsive nanoparticles for intraoperative NIR imaging and treatment of pancreatic cancer
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Ulster
Department Name: Sch of Biomedical Sciences
Abstract
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People |
ORCID iD |
| Anthony McHale (Principal Investigator) | |
| John Callan (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
McHale AP
(2024)
Nanotechnology-based platforms for effective and versatile sonodynamic therapy in cancer treatment.
in Nanomedicine (London, England)
| Description | Using a preclinical model we found that the novel nanoparticle formulation: 1. Provided a means of distinguishing between tumour and normal tissues during surgical resection. This would ensure complete removal of tumour tissues and yet minimise collateral damage to normal tissues. 2. Provided a means of treating an exposed surgical field in order to eradicate or significantly reduce any remaining tumour tissue. This would ensure eradication of any microscopic disease that may have been missed during surgical resection, thereby reducing recurrence at the surgical site or, potentially, reducing the chances of subsequent metastasis. |
| Exploitation Route | Tissues harvested during our in vivo studies have been provided to our collaborator at UCL in order to study the impact of nanoparticle administration on off target tissues. |
| Sectors | Healthcare |
| Description | Together with our collaborators at UCL, we are currently engaging with clinicians in order to ascertain the potential utility of our technology platform. Essentially the technology that has been reduced to practice in preclinical models will require interaction with both clinicians and regulatory authorities in order to move the approach to the clinic. Presentation of our data at an international forum has led to an additional collaboration with a view towards clinical translation. Additional data, relating to mechanism of action, have been generated by our UCL collaborators on the original EPSRC project and those, together with the original preclinical finds will lead to the generation of a more comprehensive scientific publication in the near future. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Healthcare |
| Description | NIR Imaging (execution of in vivo studies) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Division of Surgery & Interventional Science |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Partnership is designed to achieve the milestones identified for the in vivo studies. Our partners designed, prepared, characterised and provided us with a nanoparticle formulation that enabled nIR fluorescence imaging of tumour tissues for use in identifying tumour/normal tissue borders and could further be used at a photodynamic sensitiser to treat exposed surgical fields to eradicate residual tumour tissue. Our contribution was to design and execute the in vivo studies. The latter involved examining the biodistribution and efficacy (realtime imaging during surgery/PDT-mediated eradication of residual tumour tissue) of the lead candidate nanoparticle preparation using a murine pancreatic cancer model. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partner characterised a number of nanoparticle formulations and provided us with a lead candidate for testing in vivo. |
| Impact | The lead candidate formulation was provided to us in Aug 21 and we embarked on our in vivo studies thereafter. Data outputs include: 1. Biodistribution studies demonstrating significant uptake of the nanoparticles by tumours. 2. Efficacy established in terms of using the formulation to identify tumour tissue for resection. 3. Efficacy demonstrated in terms of treating the exposed surgical field with nIR light (photodynamic therapy) in order to eradicate residual tumour tissue after resection. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Preparation for clinical trial |
| Organisation | University of Thessaly |
| Country | Greece |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Clinical trial referred to in last years submission has been authorized by the Greek regulatory authority. This will explore intraoperative use of indocyanine green in nIR imaging and treatment for pancreatic cancer. Currently we are exploring a re-design of our protocol to replace laser based technology with a light emitting diode based approach for eventual use in the clinic. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This is led by our original partner in the EPSRC-funded project, Prof. N. Nomikou at University College London. Colleagues at the University of Thessaly are providing clinical in put. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary collaboration: biomedical engineering, surgical technology, physics (photonics), medicine, pharmacology. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Submission of clinical trial protocol for approval and preparation for clinical studies |
| Organisation | University of Thessaly |
| Department | Faculty of Medicine |
| Country | Greece |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this collaboration is the clinical translation of the technology developed in the context of the EPSRC project. A clinical team affiliated with the University of Thessaly expressed interest in performing clinical studies for establishing the relevant technology to the clinic for the intraoperative and laparoscopic treatment of pancreatic cancer, and in general of hepatopancreatobiliary cancers. I am serving as a scientific advisor on planning of the trial and consulting on the generation of the formulation at scale |
| Collaborator Contribution | This is led by Prof. Nomikou at UCL. She was our original partner on the EPSRC project. |
| Impact | Multidisciplinary collaboration: biomedical engineering, surgical technology, physics (photonics), medicine, pharmacology. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation at Medical/Scientific Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The presentation of our results from the EPSRC project attracted interest from clinical teams and triggered the initiation of a strong collaboration for the clinical translation of the relevant technology. Our group provided data for this presentation that were generated during the original EPSRC project. https://www.emedevents.com/c/medical-conferences-2023/4th-panhellenic-conference-of-the-hellenic-society-of-the-liver-pancreas-biliary |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.emedevents.com/c/medical-conferences-2023/4th-panhellenic-conference-of-the-hellenic-soc... |