Ricerca Progetti nazionali, regionali, internazionaliTHERMINATOR

Thermoablation of melanoma and mammary carcinoma with injected nanoparticles coupled to radiotherapy

This project is based on the following data: ECFCs uptake AuNPs (AuNP-ECFC) and privilege homing within tumors. In contrast to what happens by injecting bare NPs, viable Au-ECFCs remain within tu-mors for several weeks. AuNP-ECFCs display excellent thermotransductive properties that kill cancer cells in vitro upon laser irradiation at moderate NIR light intensities and induce necrotization of exper-imental tumors in mice inoculated with AuNP-ECFCs. These results led to the deposited patent n. 102016000045932. The accumulation and biodistribution of AuNP-ECFCs can be followed in vivo by photoacoustic imag-ing (PAI), which allows to achieve maximum sensitivity and specificity for the detection of tumor mass and of macro/micro-metastases in experimental animal models. Moreover, the presence of AuNPs within tumors results in an increase of radiosensitivity, thus reducing side effects and improving the therapeutic result of radiotherapy. The aim of this project is to develop a new theranostic approach in oncology,

combining plasmonic hyperthermia with radiotherapy. Gold nanoparticles (AuNP), in fact,

will be used to induce a localised photothermal effect causing the so-called thermal ablation of the tumour after exposure to near-infrared radiation (NIR). The major obstacle to be overcome for a real use of AuNPs in anti-tumour therapy is related to their bio-distribution and localisation in the tumour mass. The aim is to increase the accumulation of AuNPs in tumours (melanoma and breast) by employing, as AuNP vehicles, Endothelial Colony Forming Cells (ECFC), a subpopulation of endothelial cell progenitors (EPCs) isolated from umbilical cord and endowed with innate tumour tropism.

This experimental approach is based on the following data: ECFCs incorporate AuNPs (AuNP ECFCs), have a pronounced ability to localise and persist for several weeks within tumours, are able to absorb NIR radiation with high efficiency, even at low power, and convert it into heat inducing heat inducing the death of tumour cells in vitro and the necrosis of tumours in experimental animals, following inoculation with AuNP ECFC. These results led to the registration of patent n°102016000045932.

 

Responsabile: Anna Laurenzana

Data inizio: 03.08.20

Data conclusione: 02.02.25

CUP n. B54I20002740002 

Progetto finanziato dalla Regione Toscana nell'ambito del Bando regionale Ricerca Salute 2018

 

COSTO COMPLESSIVO	CONTRIBUTO REGIONE	BENEFICIARI	PARTNER	COSTO COMPLESSIVO PER PARTNER	CONTRIBUTO REGIONE PER PARTNER
939.570,00	751.656,00	Università degli Studi di Firenze	capofila	334.720,00	267.776,00
		AOU CAREGGI	partner	179.160,00	143.328,00
		CNR- IFAC	partner	141.665,00	113.332,00
		CNR- IFC	partner	142.360,00	113.888,00
		AOU PISANA	partner	141.665,00	113.332,00