New molecule tested as a delivery vehicle image to kill brain tumors

Researchers from two universities have developed and tested a molecular platform that hope for treatment of aggressive brain tumors offers.

A single connection with double feature the possibility of a diagnostic and therapeutic agent may one day be used to improve the diagnosis, imaging and treatment of brain tumors, according to findings of Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech.

The research is published in August 2011, the issue of Radiology online for publication, in the article, "Nano Metallofullerene-based platform for Brain Tumor brachytherapy and longitudinal Imaging test in a Xenograft Model lymfklier Orthotopic," by Michael d. Shultz, John d. Wilson, Dr. Christine e. Fuller, Jianyuan Zhang, Harry c. Dorn and Panos Fatouros P..

Glioblastomas are the most common and aggressive brain tumor in humans, with a high degree of relapse. Often these tumor cells reach the well-defined tumor margins making it extremely difficult for clinicians and radiologists to visualize with current imaging techniques. Researchers have examined the improved methods for the attacks of these cells to possibly slow down or prevent brain tumor relapse.

In the study, the research team led by Panos Fatouros, a former Professor and Chair of the Division of Radiation Physics and biology in the VCU School of Medicine, now retired, demonstrated that a nanoparticle with a MRI diagnostic agent can effectively be image within the brain tumor and radiation therapy in an animal model. Survival of the treated mice was 2.5 times longer than the untreated mice (52 days compared with 20.7 days).

The nanoparticle filled with gadolinium, a sensitive MRI contrast agent for imaging, and in combination with radioactive lutetium 177 to brachytherapy, is known as a theranostic agent a single connection at the same time, provide effective treatment and Imaging. The lutetium 177 is linked to the outside of the carbon cage of the nanoparticle.

The researchers reporting three advances in knowledge reported in Radiology article. A functionalized endohedral metallofullerene gadolinium showed extensive tumor distribution and long-term preservation when administered by means of convection-enhanced delivery to longitudinal imaging offer. A radiolabeled chelating with success can be linked to the (improved Fullerene), producing a single theranostic nano platform with multimodal properties for imaging and therapy. The tumor retention characteristics of the nano platform provide sufficient time for decay and extensive radionuclide distribution to effective therapy.

"We believe the clustering properties of these nano platform extend the retention in the tumor, allowing a higher radiation dose to deliver locally," said Michael Shultz, a research fellow in Fatouros ' lab in the Department of Radiology in the VCU School of Medicine.

"This could potentially theranostic agent critical data on tumor response to therapy through longitudinal imaging without further contrast administration," said Fatouros.

The molecular platform is based on a Fullerene a hollow carbon cage discovers that Harry Dorn, professor of chemistry in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, how to fill with atoms of useful metals. A fill is gadolinium, an extremely sensitive MRI contrast agent, which is 40 times more effective in the imaging of the brain than commercial agents MRI (reported in radiology in 2006). In 2009, van Dorn team developed a hands-off way to fill Fullerene with radioactive material.

"Although this is a limited animal study, it shows great promise and hopefully this metallofullerene platform will be extended to people," said Dorn, which Dr. A.C. Lilly Jr Faculty Fellow in Nanoscience at Virginia Tech.

Sources: Virginia Tech, AlphaGalileo Foundation.