A medical student at James Cook University is showcasing how nanoparticles could enhance breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Each year, over 2.3 million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer. A recent article in the Journal of Personalized Medicine explores how nanoparticles could revolutionize our understanding and treatment of this disease.
Josephine B. Oehler co-authored the paper with Dr Hugo Albrecht from the University of South Australia's Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, with the article reviewing how nanotechnology could improve cancer care by making it more accurate, personalised, and effective.
"While treatment for breast cancer has come a long way, we still need better ways to deliver therapy directly to the tumour and reduce side effects," Ms Oehler said.
"It was inspiring to see scientists from so many countries all working toward the same goal - finding smarter, more tailored ways to detect and treat cancer."
"Working on the review also gave me great insights into global innovations in nanomedicine."
Nanoparticles, much smaller than a human hair, can transport medicines and aid in medical imaging with their small size and unique surface properties making them ideal for cancer care.
Most people think of nanoparticles only as drug carriers, but they can also help with early detection, imaging, and even understanding the unique characteristics of a tumour. When their surfaces are modified, they can be made to target cancer cells directly.
"The review explains that nanoparticles reach tumours by passive targeting, using leaky blood vessels to accumulate in cancerous tissue, or active targeting, where they bind to markers on cancer cells," Ms Oehler said.
"This approach enables treatment to target cancer cells specifically while minimising exposure of healthy cells. It also permits researchers to collect data about the tumour, which can assist in customizing treatment for each patient."
The paper also looks at the role of nanoparticles in immunotherapy, which is an approach that helps the immune system recognise and attack cancer.
There is growing interest in using nanoparticles to support the immune system in fighting cancer more effectively and with fewer side effects than traditional therapies.
Challenges remain before these technologies can be widely used in clinical practice.
These include large-scale nanoparticle production, long-term safety, body distribution understanding, and regulatory approval.
"Nanoparticle therapies need thorough testing before patient use, but some are in clinical trials, and a few have been approved," Ms Oehler said.
"Real progress is happening. It's an exciting time for this field."
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