Moscow researchers use magnetite nanoparticles to develop cancer drugs

Scientists at MISiS, a leading Russian technology university in Moscow, are developing a new family of theranostic (a portmanteau of the words “therapy” and “diagnostic”) magnetite nanoparticles based materials that are considered unique in Russia and abroad and expected to enable the development of high-efficacy cancer drugs, portal Rusnanonet.ru  reported , citing a source in the Moscow-based university. 

In addition to diagnostics, magnetite nanoparticles are expected to be used for efficient and targeted delivery of a drug into an afflicted area inside the human body, the source said. 

MISiS will carry on this work at its new Biomed Nanomaterials laboratory with an estimated $1+m in financial support for the inception two-year stage of the effort, project leader Dr. Alexander Mazhuga was quoted as saying. In the meantime, the researchers will focus on the development of solutions to fight liver and prostate cancers, two of the top five of the world’s deadliest oncology diseases, he said. 

The state-of-the-art MISiS laboratory is reportedly open for collaboration with both Russian and international scientific centers. Its partners already include Russia’s Center for Certification of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Hygienic Products in Serpukhov some 100km south of Moscow; the Skryabin Medical Academy and the Lomonosov State University (MSU), both in Moscow; the Tsyba Scientific Center of Radiology, also outside Moscow not far from Serpukhov; the University of Nottingham in the UK; the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in the U.S.; and some others.

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