Russians develop new methods to fight cancer

Researchers at the Lobachevsky University (UNN) in Nizhny Novgorod, in the mid-Volga area, and their Australian colleagues have developed multipart anti-tumor molecular complexes. 

The complexes contain yttrium-90, a radioactive isotope, and protein molecules. The latter consist of two parts, one being the guide able to selectively bond with cancerous cells, and the other bringing to the cells bacterial toxins. 

The nanocomplexes are based on biocompatible photoluminescent nanodimensional particles (nanophosphors), an approach that enables their visualization by optic methods. The infrared spectrum is used for nanophosphor photoluminescence excitation; therefore the nanoparticles reach deep into the living tissue, leaving it intact. 

The particles are covered with special organic/inorganic coating that helps preserve all the useful properties inside the human body, and makes it possible to attach external protein modules. Antibodies or specially designed proteins can serve as external guiding modules added as part of the nanocomplex. All that enables targeted delivery of the entire complex to a cancerous cell. 

The UNN-based team has obtained a patent for their invention and is looking forward to putting together large-scale preclinical trials on a big group of lab animals.

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