Delta Scan: The Future of Science and Technology, 2005-2055: The Coming Nanoshell Revolution in Oncology

Key Pages

Category:
Science and Technology

Domain:
Nanotechnology, Materials, Biology and Biotechnology

Keywords:
Nanotechnology - nanoshells, medicine, cancer, health care, oncology

Outlook:
Nanoshells could revolutionise oncology by enabling precisely targeted therapies that could replace chemotherapy and radiation.

Summary Analysis:
Nanoshells are cores of non-conducting material such as glass or silicon, covered by a metal, often gold. They were developed in the mid 1990s and while they are still in relative infancy as an application of nanoengineering, research on their use to target tumours has suggested that they have the potential to be useful in fighting cancer.

Nanoshells have two potential uses in anti-cancer treatments; firstly, if the size of the non-conducting core and the thickness of the surrounding metal of the nanoshell is varied, it can convert particular wavelengths of light into heat. Tumour cells could be targeted by injecting the nanoshells directly into the cancer, or combining the shells with antibodies that only bind to cancer cells. Light of the right frequency shone on the tumour site would be converted to heat, killing the cancer cells and leaving healthy cells intact.

Secondly, if the nanoshells could be combined with anticancer drugs, they could help target the drug particles to cancer cells, moving away from the ‘blunt’ targeting of current chemotheraphy treatments which target tumour and healthy cells alike. Particles of anti-cancer drugs would be formed into a polymer capsule, combined with nanoscale gold particles, and then covered with cancer-binding antibodies. These capsules would then be injected into the bloodstream where they bind to cancer cells. Applying near-infrared light would melt the gold nanoparticles, rupturing the capsules and releasing the drug directly into the tumor.

Successful tests of the nanoshell procedure have been conducted in the lab on both cancerous tumors in animals and human cancer cells outside of the body, showing promising efficacy and survival rates.

Implications:

Vastly increased efficacy of cancer treatment
Displacement of chemotherapy and radiation as cancer therapies of choice

Early Indicators:

Successful tests of the nanoshell procedure conducted in the lab on both cancerous tumors in animals and human cancer cells outside of the body

What to Watch:

Human clinical trials of nanoshells are undertaken with successful results.

Parallels/Precedents:

Enablers/drivers:

Basic and broader work aimed at shrinking materials down to the nano level
Continuing work on further reducing drug particles in size

Leaders:
Institutions:

Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology, Rice University (work by Jennifer West on photothermal destruction of cancer cells using nanoshells)
University of Melbourne (Frank Caruso's work on targeting drug particles into cancer cells via nanoshells)
Nanospectra Biosciences, Inc. (in collaboration with Rice University, leading the way toward human trials of nanoshells) [link]
pSivida (Australia) [link]
QinetiQ (UK) [link]

Figures:

Sources:

National Cancer Institute, "NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer." [link]
Kvamme, E. Floyd. 2005. "Presentation: Federal Nanotechnolgy R&amp;D Program, Naotional Nanotechnology Advisory Panel Report," March 22.
Roco, Mihail C. and William Sims Bainbridge (eds.) "Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Technology and Cognitive Science." National Science Foundation.
Nowak, Rachel. 2005. "'Smart bombs' to deliver fatal blast to tumors." NewScientist, January 8.
Bhattacharya, Shaoni. 2003. "Gold 'nano-bullets' shoot down tumors." NewScientist.com, November 4.
Jessica Jameson, Nanotechnology and some of its future medical applications, Medlink, 2005 [link]
European Commission, European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine, 2005 [ftp]
Jane Bradbury, Nanoshell destruction of inoperable tumours, The Lancet Oncology, December 2003 [link]
Nanobiology in Drug Delivery: The Market Finally Emerges, Frost & Sullivan, Pharmalicensingcom [link]
G F Paciotti et al, Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles: A Versatile Platform for Developing Tumour-Targeted Cancer Therapies, Nanotech 2005 Vol 1, 7-10 [link]
John Ryan (Oxford), Nanomedicine: Extending R&D Opportunities to Business [link]

At A Glance:
When:
3-10 years

Where:
Global

How Fast:
Years

Likelihood:
Medium-High

Impact:
Medium-Low

Controversy:
Medium

Related Outlooks:

About this outlook: An outlook is an internally consistent, plausible view of the future based on the best expertise available. It is not a prediction of the future. The AT-A-GLANCE ratings suggest the scope, scale, and uncertainty associated with this outlook. Each outlook is also a working document, with contributors adding comments and edits to improve the forecast over time. Please see the revision history for earlier versions.

Category:	Science and Technology
Domain:	Nanotechnology, Materials, Biology and Biotechnology
Keywords:	Nanotechnology - nanoshells, medicine, cancer, health care, oncology
Outlook:	Nanoshells could revolutionise oncology by enabling precisely targeted therapies that could replace chemotherapy and radiation.
Summary Analysis:	Nanoshells are cores of non-conducting material such as glass or silicon, covered by a metal, often gold. They were developed in the mid 1990s and while they are still in relative infancy as an application of nanoengineering, research on their use to target tumours has suggested that they have the potential to be useful in fighting cancer. Nanoshells have two potential uses in anti-cancer treatments; firstly, if the size of the non-conducting core and the thickness of the surrounding metal of the nanoshell is varied, it can convert particular wavelengths of light into heat. Tumour cells could be targeted by injecting the nanoshells directly into the cancer, or combining the shells with antibodies that only bind to cancer cells. Light of the right frequency shone on the tumour site would be converted to heat, killing the cancer cells and leaving healthy cells intact. Secondly, if the nanoshells could be combined with anticancer drugs, they could help target the drug particles to cancer cells, moving away from the ‘blunt’ targeting of current chemotheraphy treatments which target tumour and healthy cells alike. Particles of anti-cancer drugs would be formed into a polymer capsule, combined with nanoscale gold particles, and then covered with cancer-binding antibodies. These capsules would then be injected into the bloodstream where they bind to cancer cells. Applying near-infrared light would melt the gold nanoparticles, rupturing the capsules and releasing the drug directly into the tumor. Successful tests of the nanoshell procedure have been conducted in the lab on both cancerous tumors in animals and human cancer cells outside of the body, showing promising efficacy and survival rates.

	Implications:	Vastly increased efficacy of cancer treatment Displacement of chemotherapy and radiation as cancer therapies of choice
	Early Indicators:	Successful tests of the nanoshell procedure conducted in the lab on both cancerous tumors in animals and human cancer cells outside of the body
	What to Watch:	Human clinical trials of nanoshells are undertaken with successful results.
	Parallels/Precedents:
	Enablers/drivers:	Basic and broader work aimed at shrinking materials down to the nano level Continuing work on further reducing drug particles in size
	Leaders:	Institutions: Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology, Rice University (work by Jennifer West on photothermal destruction of cancer cells using nanoshells) University of Melbourne (Frank Caruso's work on targeting drug particles into cancer cells via nanoshells) Nanospectra Biosciences, Inc. (in collaboration with Rice University, leading the way toward human trials of nanoshells) [link] pSivida (Australia) [link] QinetiQ (UK) [link]
	Figures:
	Sources:	National Cancer Institute, "NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer." [link] Kvamme, E. Floyd. 2005. "Presentation: Federal Nanotechnolgy R&amp;D Program, Naotional Nanotechnology Advisory Panel Report," March 22. Roco, Mihail C. and William Sims Bainbridge (eds.) "Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Technology and Cognitive Science." National Science Foundation. Nowak, Rachel. 2005. "'Smart bombs' to deliver fatal blast to tumors." NewScientist, January 8. Bhattacharya, Shaoni. 2003. "Gold 'nano-bullets' shoot down tumors." NewScientist.com, November 4. Jessica Jameson, Nanotechnology and some of its future medical applications, Medlink, 2005 [link] European Commission, European Technology Platform on Nanomedicine, 2005 [ftp] Jane Bradbury, Nanoshell destruction of inoperable tumours, The Lancet Oncology, December 2003 [link] Nanobiology in Drug Delivery: The Market Finally Emerges, Frost & Sullivan, Pharmalicensingcom [link] G F Paciotti et al, Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles: A Versatile Platform for Developing Tumour-Targeted Cancer Therapies, Nanotech 2005 Vol 1, 7-10 [link] John Ryan (Oxford), Nanomedicine: Extending R&D Opportunities to Business [link]

At A Glance:	When:	3-10 years
	Where:	Global
	How Fast:	Years
	Likelihood:	Medium-High
	Impact:	Medium-Low
	Controversy:	Medium