The role of nanomaterials in translational medicine

Abstract

There are a range of definitions for nanomaterials and a range of length scales that are considered nano, but one thing is consistent among fields: nanomaterials are small and special. Nanomaterials have the potential to have tremendous impact on medical treatments. In one example, nanomaterials are permitting the tracking of cells via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in clinical trials to assess the efficacy and safety of cellular therapies. In a second example, nanomaterials are acting as drug delivery vehicles for the targeted delivery of therapies to increase efficacy and to reduce side effects. However, there are distinct challenges that must be considered in the development and application of these materials, including careful analysis of the distribution and clearance of nanomaterials and their potential off-target effects. By carefully assessing materials early in their development at the bench, one may be able to move successful approaches through to the clinic more rapidly, which is indeed the goal of the field. For far too many conditions and diseases, the tools we have are less than adequate, and nanomaterials have the potential to fill that void. To realize this potential, investigators must be willing to invest time and resources to develop and to translate these technologies to the point where the risk is low enough that they have real commercial possibilities. Working collaboratively and leveraging resources and experience play important roles in moving technologies through preclinical and clinical testing. It requires incredible dedication of teams of researchers, but the result is new treatments and therapies.

Figure 1

(A) Nanomaterials for therapy: tracking cells. Nanomaterials can be designed to be endocytosed by cells. The most common ones for MRI cell tracking are iron oxide based. The particles generate a signal on MRI that correlates with the cell location and permits noninvasive longitudinal tracking of cell therapies. (B) Nanomaterials as drug delivery systems. Nanoparticles can be administered systemically to deliver a drug to a target site such as a tumor through either passive or active targeting. (C) Nanomaterials at a target site. PEGylated PLGA nanoparticles labeled with Coumarin 6 (green) are seen participating in a clot following intravenous administration. (D) Nanoparticles that were designed to bind to the cells involved in the clot show greater accumulation at the target (injury) site than untargeted nanoparticles. (E) Biodistribution of the nanoparticles over time. No nanoparticles were detected in any organs or plasma at 3 days post administration. Images C, D, and E are reprinted with permission from ref . Copyright 2009 American Association for the Advancement of Science.