Development of multi-functional chelating nanomedicines as theranostics

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20692
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 90120:Biomaterials-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Kim Ahram 筑波大学, 数理物質系, 研究員 (00794679)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 配位結合 / キレート分子 / 金属イオン / フェントン反応 / キレーション療法 / 高分子 / ナノ粒子 / ドラッグデリバリーシステム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Spatiotemporal regulation of metal ions is an important biological process. Nevertheless, when it comes to a dysfunctional deficiency or accumulation of metal ions, it is extremely difficult to regulate them by using conventional drugs. Metal chelates have been used as contrast agents in bioimaging methods. However, permanent deposition of toxic metal ions, such as gadolinium, has been reported. Furthermore, metal ion overload has been one of the serious incurable diseases, because although chelation therapy has been employed, the conventional chelating agents possess not only an unreasonably low efficacy and strong toxicity against the excretion system. In this study, to resolve the aforementioned problems, highly innovative nanomedicines were developed for two contrasting purposes: 1) Metal ion-encapsulating nanoparticles for safe delivery of metal ions, and 2) Metal ion-capturing nanoparticles for safe chelation therapy.

Free Research Field

Materials Engineering

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

金属錯体はMRI法などの造影剤として、キレート剤はキレーション療法に用いられているものの、それぞれ金属イオンが残留する重大なリスクや、極めて低い治療効果が問題となっている。本研究は、極めて安全に金属イオンの送達、または捕獲する画期的なナノメディシンの開発に成功した。今後、様々な難治性疾患の診断・治療への応用が強く期待される。