Transcript Defining the right clinical problems for nanotechnology

Defining the right clinical
problems for nanotechnology
Table 2
John S. Oghalai, MD
Potential Clinical Goals of
Nanotechnology
1. Nanotechnology to change the
surface of implanted devices
• Premise: on the nanoscale, adhesion
properties of surfaces may be different
– To decrease biofilm formation of pathogenic
organisms
– To increase the ability of beneficial organisms
to form biofilms
• Examples: vascular stents, indwelling
catheters, cochlear implants, pacemakers
2. Mechanical modulation of
biologic components
• Premise: carbon nanotubes are stiff and may
cross-link collagen fibers
• Examples
– To stiffen the eardrum for the treatment of
cholesteatoma or atelectasis
– To stiffen the basilar membrane within the cochlea
and alter the frequency sensitivity of hearing
– To stiffen the skin in patients with chronic skin
disorders and ulcerations
– Tendon and/or bone strengthening
3. Topical Gene Therapy
• Premise: carbon nanotubes can be used to
transport exogenous DNA into a cell and could
be applied locally with minimal risk
• Examples of potential use for gene delivery:
–
–
–
–
To the cochlea for the treatment of hearing loss
To the eye for visual loss
To the skin
To blood vessels, via endovascular application
4. Neural Regeneration & Repair
• Premise: Nanotubes conduct electricity
and can be fabricated in parallel matrices
• Examples:
– To repair the facial nerve after planned
surgical sacrifice
– To repair the spinal cord after traumatic injury
– To repair or restore function in long nerves to
extremities in diabetics or other patients with
peripheral nerve disease
5. Drug delivery
• Premise: Nanotubes can transport drugs
• Examples:
– Deliver alpha radiation to cancer micrometastases
– Deliver compounds to areas of vascular stenosis or
occlusion (heart, brain, etc.)
– Deliver growth factors to chronic wounds
– Deliver substances across the blood-brain and bloodperilymph (inner ear) barriers
– Delivery of anti-HIV therapies to T-cells
6. Imaging
• Premise: Nanotubes can carry contrast
agents
• Examples:
– Transportation of gadolinium to improve MRI
sensitivity
Barriers to developments in
these areas
Technical barriers
• Toxicities of nanomaterials are unknown
• How to best target the nanomaterials so that
systemic administration can be used
• How to uncage the drug so it gets out at the
desired location
• Is there a way to “re-cage” the drug when it is no
longer desired
• How are nanoparticles removed from the body
• Mathematical modeling of nanostructures is in its
infancy
Other barriers
• Identifying potential collaborators between
institutions, departments, and
backgrounds
• Obtaining seed grant funds to start novel
projects
• Obtaining large amounts of funding to be
able tp translate successful results from
animal studies into clinical phase 1 trials.
Opportunities for the Texas
Medical Center
Action Items
• Make the Collaborative Research Center
(CRC) the hub for nanomedicine
interactions
• Weekly or bi-weekly seminar series
dedicated to nanotechnology research
• Increase number of Rice graduate
students and post-docs working in
collaborations with biological labs within
the Texas Medical Center