Creation, Pegylation, and Functionalization of Radioactive Nano-Particles for Cancer Therapy

Abstract:

The use of radioactive nanoparticles for cancer therapy has been established in the past using Au-198. This research is to develop functionalized radioactive nanoparticles against multiple receptors that are over-expressed in cancer cells or in the extracellular matrix of cancer. By functionalizing the radioactive nanoparticles we can more effectively target clusters of cancer cells and minimally damage healthy tissue, i.e. a form of targeted radiation therapy. Firstly by producing irradiated gold nanoparticles laced with iodine-131 and followed by PEGylation the surface to increase biocompatibility and produce sites that can be functionalized. Lastly the terminus of the PEG chains are conjugated with monoclonal antibodies that will bind to the over expressed antigens of the cancer cells such as rituximab or trastuzumab.