Center for Nanomedicine Research

Introduction | Objectives | Members

Objectives

Nanomedicine is the application of nanotechnology (the engineering of tiny machines) to the prevention and treatment of disease in the human body. Nanomedicine exploration is the biologically motivated discovery and development that will incorporate nanotechnology tools, devices and processes to provide fundamental insights into cellular function and dysfunction, and leading to therapeutic interventions for disease. This discipline is still in its infancy. It has the potential to change medical science dramatically in the 21st century.

In order to explore the innovative nanotechnology applications to medically important issues and to integrate the intramural and extramural research resources and efforts, NHRI has decided to establish the Center for Nanomedicine Research (CNMR). The major research directions for CNMR and the NHRI are: (1) nanoscience and nanotechnology on health risk assessment; (2) nanoscience and nanotechnology on cancer research and regenerative medicine; (3) nanoscience and nanotechnology on Biomedical Moniotoring. The infrastructure for the interdivisional collaborations is illustrated in the following scheme:

We will have 10 primary projects according to the four major directions at the CNMR/NHRI, 3 projects are continuing projects started from 2004; 3 projects are continuing projects starting from 2005; 4 are projects that will be newly launched starting from 2007:

From 2004

• Targeted Tumor Radioimmuntherapy with Radionuclide Alpha Emitter Nanogenerator
• Stem cell tracking using MRI contrast agents-conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles
• Nanotechnology in smart and interactive targeting delivery and controlled release

From 2005

• Toxcigenomics of nanoparticles as nanomaterials using c-DNA microarray;
• Nano-sized formulation of novel anticancer drug BPR0L-075 and the animal studies;
• Nanosience and nanotechnology in molecular imaging.

from 2007

• Establish and maintain EM/AFM microscopy core facilities
• Pharmacokinetic and safety assessment on quantum dots
• Development of drug-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for overcoming multidrug resistant (MDR) cancer cells
• (10)In vivo investigation of nano-liposomes for targeting delivery and controlled release

Through these interdivisional collaborations, we will

• explore the biological safety of inorganic nanoparticles, including the cell viability, intracellular distribution and gene toxicity at the cellular level (project 4) and the adsorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion at the systemic whole body level (project 8), these projects are listed in the "nanoscience and nanotechnology health risk assessment" category);
• explore the sue of mesoporous nanosilicaes for stem cell tracing (project 2) and anticancer therapeutics (project 9), these projects are listed in the "nanoscience and nanotechnology on cancer research and regenerative medicine" and category;
• synthesize the nano-sized liposomes (either unmodified or modified with VEGF type 2 receptor antibody) containing both nuclear medicine molecules for magning modality and chemotherapeutics for therapy and the application in animal tumor model (project 1), this project is listed as the "nanoscience and nanotechnology on cancer research" category;
• perform the in vivo investigations employing both organic and inorganic nanoparticles for targeting delivery and controlled release with the biomedical applications on diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in organ ischemia/reperfusion and cancer studies, this is listed as the "project 3,nanoscience and nanotechnology on targeting delivery and controlled release" category;
• to synthesize nano-scaled biocompatible and biodegradable delivery vehicle encapsulating an anticancer drug (BPR075) and investigate whether this nano-formulation may improve the biological ADME of the drug, this project is listed as "project 5, nanoscience and nanotechnology on targeting delivery and controlled release" category;
• the application of nanoparticles as contrast agents and delivery vehicle including gene and protein) in molecular imaging, this is listed as the "project 6, nanoscience and nanotechnology on molecular imaging."