Researchers at NUST MISIS have advanced the field of medical imaging by developing nanoparticles designed for MRI that can reveal tumors in the brain, breast, and intestines. These tiny agents not only visualize cancerous growths but also hold the potential to forecast how well a patient might respond to anticancer therapy. This work comes from the Biomedical Nanomaterials laboratory, led by a candidate of chemical sciences who leads the nano-medical research team at MISIS and is affiliated with the medical nanobiotechnologies department. The findings were discussed with Gazeta.ru RNIMU and the NI Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, with Maxim Abakumov, a key figure in this research, contributing to the explanation of the approach. and Ministry of Health records.
Before a patient begins treatment, diagnostic nanoparticles can be crafted so they are injected and can determine whether the drug will reach the tumor. If the answer is affirmative, the patient may be offered therapy with therapeutic nanoparticles. If not, the drug could prove expensive and time consuming while likely offering little benefit. This strategy aims to conserve valuable time and resources by avoiding ineffective interventions.
The strategy of delivering drugs to tumors via nanoparticles builds on the well known phenomenon of enhanced permeability and retention, often referred to as the EPR effect, observed in malignant vessels. This understanding underpins the rationale for using nano-sized carriers to ferry therapeutic agents directly to cancer sites.
Typically, the vascular network that supplies oxygen to organs operates normally, but as a tumor grows, its blood vessels become irregular with structural defects. Gaps, dead ends, and tangled loops form, creating pathways that allow nanoparticles to accumulate more readily within the tumor tissue than in healthy organs. When researchers detect a concentration of nanoparticles in a region, it strongly suggests the presence of a tumor mass. This selective localization is central to both imaging and treatment strategies.
However, administering drugs via nanoparticle carriers will be effective only if the modified tumor vessels exhibit proper pores and permeability. If the vascular network does not present these features, the delivery system may fail to deliver adequate drug levels to the tumor. Ongoing work focuses on refining nanoparticle properties and vascular targeting to maximize uptake while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue.
Additional research explores how nanoparticles can be used to amplify the effectiveness of anticancer regimens, guide preclinical testing in model systems, and contribute to the destruction of malignant tissue. These efforts reflect a broader push to translate nano-enabled imaging and therapy from laboratory findings into clinical practice, with ongoing assessments by national health authorities and research institutions.