Cyto/hemocompatible magnetic hybrid NPs made of iron oxide/silver sulfide quantum dots with luminescence in the near-infrared region for combinational therapy of peritoneal metastasis

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is considered as the terminal stage of metastatic colon cancer, with still poor median survival rate even with the best recent chemotherapy (Chem) treatment suggesting the need for advanced methods to assist with the early diagnosis and treatment.

However, the newest methods combine cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal Chem (HIPEC), which uses mild hyperthermia (Hyp) by circulation of a hot fluid to boost the diffusion and cytotoxic effect of drugs.

A recent development in patients with unresectable PM is pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol Chem (PIPAC) that combines a diagnostic laparoscopy with locoregional administration of Chem as an aerosol.

Non-selective biodistribution, low bioavailability, high drug concentrations, limited drug circulation time, and various side-effects limit the utilisation of HIPEC and PIPAC. Innovative drug delivery system with the controlled drug release at tumour site can enhance the therapeutic efficacy.

Utilisation of nanoparticles (NPs) as carriers to deliver drugs with the possibility of tagging them with targeting agents will overcome the off-site toxicity.

Cyto/hemocompatible magnetic hybrid NPs (Silver sulphide-Iron oxide) with luminescence in the near-infrared region for combinational therapy of peritoneal metastasis (SANTE) project aims to develop multimodal therapy approach for diagnosis and treatment of PM.

It intends to enhance the efficacy of PM treatment using a combination of image guided remotely activated nanoHyp coupled with targeted Chem.

Tumour targeted Ag2S will allow preoperative detection of microscopic or residual tumours to improve resection before Chem/Hyp.

Iron oxide, targeting agent(cetuximab), and the chemotherapeutic drug(cisplatin) are all clinically used for the treatment of various type of cancers.

The result of this fellowship will enable scientists in the PM field to translate the novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods into clinical practice and market.a