Photo:Fluorescence picture showing uptake of nanoparticles labelled with red fluorescence taken up principally by tumor cells labelled with green microparticles. Few nanoparticles can be seen on the brain slice (blue) underneath. Credit: Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine

A nanoparticle drug delivery system designed by University of Nottingham scientists for brain tumor therapy has shown promising tumor cell selectivity in a novel cell culture model. The nanoparticles were prepared from a novel biodegradable polymer, poly(glycerol adipate), which has been modified to enhance efficacy and allow incorporation of drugs.

In the cell co-culture model now reported, these two techniques have been brought together for the first time. Brain tumor cell aggregates were labeled with fluorescent iron microparticles and grown on normal newborn rat-brain tissue slices. The double cell labeling technique allowed investigation of tumor cell invasion into brain tissue by either fluorescence or electron microscopy from the same samples. Using these techniques the tumor aggregates were found to invade the brain slices in a similar manner to tumors in the body. Having developed the model then the tumor selective uptake of nanoparticles was demonstrated in the co-culture.

The project, conducted jointly in the Schools of Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences and Human Development, is featured in the September issue of the Experimental Biology and Medicine.

Source: EurekAlert