MULTISTAGE NANOPARTICLE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS

 

Market: The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 500,000 people will die from cancer in the U.S. in 2007. Many cancer deaths, specifically from cancers of the colon, breast, rectum, and uterine cervix cancers, could be significantly reduced with earlier detection and improved therapy. Cancer treatment of the 15 most common cancers accounted for an estimated $72.1 billion of medical expenditures in the US in 2004. World wide, IMS Health reported that drug companies exceeded $34 billion in sales of cancer drugs in 2006.

Current Problems:   A huge unmet need for novel therapeutic agents and delivery mechanisms still exists. One of the most difficult challenges in treating cancer is in targeting the cytotoxic effects of the drugs to the cancer cells without damaging normal host cells. According to the National Cancer Institute, targeted localized treatment may be more effective than current treatments and less harmful to normal cells throughout the entire system.

The Technology:   Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have developed a novel nanoparticle drug delivery platform technology. The technology enables the engineering of tailorable particles that delivers the active therapeutic and/or imaging agents directly to the site within the body where the payload is needed. The initial focus may be applied to the vascular and oncological areas, although application to a variety of other therapeutic areas is possible due to the programmability of these novel nanovectors. The platform basis is a tunable, porous, micro-engineered silicon nano- or microparticle fabricated using a novel combination of synthetic and lithographic methods. The particles can then be further derived with programmed functional stages. The ease of modification inherent to each stage of the system expands administration options, where systemic or local delivery methods can be adapted to suit therapeutic need.

 

NON-CONFIDENTIAL TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION

The preceding is intended to be a non-confidential summary of a novel technology created at the University of Texas Health Science center at Houston (UTHSCH), for which the University has obtained patent protection. 

UTHSCH Ref. No. 2006-0057

Inventors: M. Ferrari et.al.

Patent Status: Patent Pending

License Available: world-wide; exclusive or non-exclusive

 

To obtain further information about this technology, please contact:
Office of Technology Management, 7000 Fannin, Suite 720, Houston, TX 77030
Phone: (713) 500-3369  Fax: (713) 500-0331
Email: uthsch-otm@uth.tmc.edu