Radioactive Nanoclusters for more efficient radiotherapy

· Description

The present invention relates to radioactive nanoclusters for diagnostic and therapeutic uses. It has been designed for treating tumorous tissues with negligible harm for the surrounding healthy cells. Simultaneously with the treatment, the time evolution of the distribution of nanoclusters into the body of a patient can be visualised. To this end, a nanocluster for targed radiotherapy has been developped, wich comprises a core including at least two radioactive or radioactivable atoms and a coat built in a material selected in such a way that a mawimum of 20% of the radiation produced by the core is stpped or absorbed.

· Keywords

Nanotechnology, cancer, vector, medical imaging, targeting, radionuclide

· Potential applications

Targed radiotherapy uses the biological differences between the cancerous and the healthy cells for selectively delivering the radionucelides so that a tumour recieves an appreciably higher quantity of radiation than the healthy cells. Nanostructures of a few nanometres can contain up to 1000 atoms. Consequently, by grafting a nanostructure on a targeting agent, the specific activity achieved is larglely higher than that of the current products. In the case of tumours of important size, a radionuclide suited for the treatment of the outside of the tumour can be combined with another radionuclide characterised by a longer range radiation in order to treat its center. This applies also to weakly vascular tumours presnting occlusions.

· Patent Status

Patent pending (WO2006063418)

· License

Available for license

· Contact

Nicole MOGUILEVSKY, PhD
Head of Technology Transfer Office
University of Namur
53 rue de Bruxelles
B-5000 Namur
BELGIUM
Phone: +32 81 72 50 47
Fax : +32 81 72 57 01
e-mail: nicole.moguilevsky@fundp.ac.be