Fighting Breast Cancer: a new generation of nanoparticles developed at the University of Coimbra was patented in the U.S.

A Patent has just been granted in the United States (U.S.) for a new generation of nanoparticles for the treatment of breast cancer which prevents the side effects associated with chemotherapy and also increases efficacy of therapy. This nanoparticle was developed by a team of researchers from the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC) and the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra (FFUC).

Under the tradename of PEGASEMP ™, this new nanoparticle has the ability to target cancer cells and the blood vessels that nurture the tumor, thereby preventing spreading of cancer cells and avoiding relapse of the tumor.

To better understand the impact of this new therapeutic strategy in breast cancer treatment, the researchers, João Nuno Moreira, Vera Moura and Sergio Simões, make the following analogy: “a truck (nanoparticle) loaded with a very sensitive cargo (medicine), has to make a very complex trip to a very specific destination. This trip has to be done with maximum security, where no deviations from the destination are allowed. “

The “secret” to ensure safety and efficacy of the delivery of the goods to the intended recipient, as the researchers illustrate, “is a highly sophisticated GPS with four key components. Thus, the nanoparticle is coated with a polymer that makes it invisible to the body’s immune system and, at the end of this polymer, we placed the “keys” that open the “gates” on the surface of cancer cells and cells from the tumor blood vessels. Upon entering the target, the nanoparticle releases its content as if it was a “grenade” (providing a large amount of drug within a short period of time) that, besides killing the cancer cells, also destroys the tumor blood vessels. “

Of the various tests conducted on animals with human breast cancer, the “nanoparticle successfully fulfilled its mission, ie, it travelled through the body until it reached the tumor, killing the cells responsible for tumor development, without causing toxicity in other organs. Moreover, it showed the ability to suppress tumor invasion”, highlight João Nuno Moreira, Vera Moura and Sergio Simões.

Envisioning an extension of this biotechnology to other types of cancer and its marketing, the researchers have already created a Spin-Off – Treat U, Ltd., incubated at Biocant, in Cantanhede. A multidisciplinary team was established with the required skills for conception and development of nanotechnology-based platforms, determination of pharmacokinetic parameters, drug development, pharmacology, clinical trials and commercial development, fulfilling the requirements of the medicine value chain.

The new nanoparticle, which was developed with the cooperation of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Coimbra (IPO), the Faculty of Pharmacy from Lisbon and the Faculty of Medicine of Porto, also saw a project approved by QREN – National Strategic Reference Framework, valued at half a million euros.

in Expresso