Developing Nanotechnologies for Detection and/or Targeted Treatment

Early detection of ovarian cancer is a primary goal in cancer imaging. Normal screening tests are pelvic examination and ultrasound. Pelvic examination reveals only advanced cancer, and ultrasound has many false positive results. We describe here, a novel approach using biomagnetic sensors to detect in-vivo, magnetic nanoparticles targeted to ovarian cancer cells and tumor angiogenesis sites. We have already developed this methodology for breast cancer imaging using SQUID magnetic sensors to detect and image magnetized nanoparticles after binding to cancer sites. Unlike optical methods, the body is transparent to magnetic fields and the cancer source can be imaged in-vivo to a few mm. We use a multichannel system and special magnetization methods to detect and image the magnetic signals from targeted cancer cells. A Phase I program will use phantoms that simulate the body to test nanoparticles with antibodies, such as CA-125, and angiogenesis agents targeting tumors. We will determine nanoparticle properties, sensitivity to cancer sites and imaging capabilities. We will determine the efficacy of adding anti-cancer drugs to nanoparticles targeted to the imaged sites with specialized magnetic concentration methods. Injections of minute amount of nanoparticles are all that is required.