Nanoparticles, Lasers, and Cancer Therapy

Presentation Description / Session Abstract: Over the last decade nanoparticles in medicine have gone from theoretical to clinical trials. At the root cause of this rapid progress is nanoparticles’ ability to specifically target disease and manipulate the body at a molecular level. Current clinical trials are being performed in a multitude of institutes and hospitals around the world. Nanoparticles target tumors through passive or active mechanisms. Passive targeting is when the particles take advantage of inherent abnormalities in tumor vasculature. Active targeting employs surface molecules to direct the particles to specific cells. Various therapy strategies are employed by nanoparticles including targeting of tumor vasculature or directly the cancer. They can also provide tumor specific drug or molecule delivery. Ultimately, nanoparticles’ ability to target cancer reduces normal tissue toxicities and systemic side effects while increasing potential tumor death. Over the last decade, dogs and cats have served as a spontaneous tumor model to evaluate a novel nanoparticle. A particle, produced by Nanospectra Biosciences, that is made of a silicone core and gold shell. These nanoshells target tumors passively. When combined with near infrared light, using lasers made by Companion Animal Health Nanotherapy, nanoshells provide a targeted tumor cell death through heat ablation. Results of these studies have been so encouraging that human prostate patients are currently being enrolled into pilot studies and receiving this therapy. Not only have these various studies provided evidence of efficacy they also provide a perfect example of how companion animals can serve as effective research models for human cancer medicine.