2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Multifunctional Au/Silk Nanoparticles Prepared by Facile Co-Precipitation Method and Evaluation for Delivery, Imaging and Targeting in Combination Cancer Therapy
| Project/Area Number |
19K15388
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| Research Institution | Tohoku University |
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Principal Investigator |
DAO THINGOCANH 東北大学, 多元物質科学研究所, 助教 (10793903)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Silk protein / Gold / Hybrid / Nanomaterials / Drug delivery / Cancer therapy |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
As a more in-depth investigation, the fabrication of silk nanoparticles (NPs) from the three types of silk protein solution was carefully monitored to achieve various morphologies and structures, through the reprecipitation method. Silk NPs were obtained in narrow size distribution, and were utilized to successfully load both anionic and cationic types of anticancer drug (one publication is under preparation). The obtained silk NPs showed moderate drug uptakes and release, good stability in biological environment and almost no toxicity at cellular level. Au/silk NPs were obtained in a slightly larger size, with the structure confirmed by TEM measurements, and also showed negligible cellular cytotoxicity. In addition, an Au-based metallic NPs were fabricated and showed promising plasmonic properties (one publication was submitted). This is expected to expand the range of wavelength for hyperthermia drug release of Au/silk system in future.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
1: Research has progressed more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Most targets of the research plan, including in vitro evaluation, are close to complete. The research is progressing to the investigation of in vitro behaviors of these nanocarriers with various compositions and structures. For Au/silk NPs, surface modification of Au was initially found to affect the yield of Au/silk NPs fabrication. In addition, the pH- responsive drug release was associated with functions of silk side groups (e.g. protonated degree, etc.), while currently the photothermal-responsive drug release behavior are being correlated to the content and structure of Au. These behaviors were observed at first in cellular experiments and will be further studied in vivo.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
As the final research step, the drug delivery and release efficacy will be tested in in vivo experiments.
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| Causes of Carryover |
In order to secure travel expenses for several international conference presentations (including two planned conferences from FY2019) which were postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19, part of the FY2020 budget was transferred to FY2021. In addition, with new findings related to nanoparticle surface properties, another part of transferred budget is going to be for purchasing a new incubation system to investigate the drug uptake and release efficacy under new conditions. Budget of FY2021 will be used as the original plan.
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