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Australian researchers have developed a groundbreaking method using iron oxide nanoparticles that can deliver chemotherapy drugs directly into cancer cells while also allowing real-time tracking of the drug's release. This innovation could significantly improve the precision and effectiveness of cancer treatments.
According to a report from the Physicist Organization Network on October 30 (Beijing time), scientists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia have created a novel type of iron oxide nanoparticle that not only transports anticancer drugs but also enables real-time monitoring of their release. The team described this as a major breakthrough in nanomedicine, with the findings published in the journal *ACS Nano*, published by the American Chemical Society.
"These nanoparticles offer a unique way to track drug delivery and tailor treatment based on individual patient responses," said Cyril Boya, an associate professor at UNSW’s School of Chemical Engineering. "By understanding how the drug is released and its effects on the cells and surrounding tissues, doctors can optimize the dosage for better therapeutic outcomes."
Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have long been used as contrast agents in MRI scans, but their potential for drug delivery has only recently been explored. Most previous studies focused on loading chemotherapy drugs onto IONPs, but none had successfully demonstrated that the drugs could be delivered inside cells. This study marks the first time that such particles have been shown to effectively transport drugs into living cells.
The UNSW team designed a graft polymer shell around the IONPs, which provided excellent stability in both water and blood serum. This shell allows doxorubicin (DOX), a commonly used antitumor drug, to bind reversibly through imine bonds, enabling controlled release in acidic environments—such as those found in tumor cells.
Using a technique called Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), the researchers demonstrated that the nanoparticles were easily taken up by two types of cancer cells—MCF-7 breast cancer cells and H1299 lung cancer cells—while simultaneously monitoring the release of DOX inside the cells.
"Typically, drug release experiments are conducted in lab settings, not within actual cells," explained one of the researchers. "This is crucial because it allows us to observe how the drug behaves in a real biological environment." Traditional chemical experiments, without high-end equipment or computer models, can now be performed in live cells. The next step is to move toward in vivo applications, bringing this technology closer to clinical use.
This development represents a significant step forward in personalized medicine, offering a more precise and adaptable approach to cancer therapy.
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