LCN Professor Julian Jones has led research into finding a nanomaterial solution which has the potential to fight aggressive breast cancer.
The research highlights how Zinc-loaded particles might have the potential to fight triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease which has previously resisted current treatments. This is achieved by using zinc-loaded, porous silica nanoparticles that can act as a biodegradable delivery platform for cancer therapies. Still in the early stages, it looks to be promising.
Prof. Jones has said “what we were really surprised by was how well it worked in terms of the width of the working dose range. It killed the more aggressive type of cancer cells more rapidly than the other cancer cells”.
A delivery method now needs to be establish and the particles will need regulatory approval. Prof. Jones added “In a way, the results seem a bit too good to be true in terms of actually treating patients. In practice, the particles may not reach all tumour cells, but perhaps they could at least reduce tumour growth and slow production of metastases, without causing side effects”. Read the full article on Materials Today.
People: Julian Jones Alexandra Porter