PFI:AIR - TT: Pulsed Shaped Magnetic Fields to Focus Therapy to Deep Tissue Targets

该PFI：AIR技术翻译（TT）项目旨在实现安全有效的磁聚焦磁粒子治疗，以解决无法手术的深部组织肿瘤。所提出的脉冲磁聚焦技术将把纳米治疗药物输送到深层目标，以便将化疗引导到体内需要的地方。如果成功，这项技术将使一项技术能够改善对多种疾病的治疗。该项目将产生一种原型设备，该设备将在临床前研究中动态地将纳米棒聚焦到深层目标。在这项研究中，生物相容性纳米棒首先通过快速磁脉冲在一个方向上对齐，然后在它们可以转动之前，第二个形状的快速磁脉冲在棒上施加力，以将它们聚焦到中心目标。重复的磁脉冲将所有的棒带到磁体之间的中心目标。这些功能提供了关键的优势，即治疗现在可以集中到磁体之间的深层目标，例如治疗无法手术的深层组织肿瘤。将治疗聚焦于深部组织靶点一直是磁性药物靶向的关键目标，并且该领域中的先前努力尚未能够实现该目标。该项目解决了以下技术差距，因为它从研究发现转化为商业应用。在台式实验中示出了纳米棒到磁体之间的目标的动态磁聚焦。在这项NSF AIR TT研究中，该技术将在组织样本中进行测试，扩大到体内系统，其安全性和实用性将得到优化和验证。此外，参与该项目的人员将通过开发和帮助商业化该技术获得创新，创业和技术翻译经验。该项目聘请温伯格医学物理作为行业联络人，为该项目提供设备，专业知识，并与战略合作伙伴和未来投资者建立联系，将该技术从研究发现转化为商业现实。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation (TT) project aims to enable a safe and effective magnetic focusing of magnetic particle therapies to address inoperable deep tissue tumors. The proposed technique of pulsed magnetic focusing will deliver nanotherapeutics to deep targets in order to direct chemotherapy to where it needs to go in the body. If successful, this technique would enable a technology that could improve treatment for a wide range of diseases. The project will result in a prototype device that will dynamically focus nanorods to deep targets in preclinical studies. In this research, biocompatible nanorods are first aligned in one direction by a fast magnetic pulse, and then before they can turn around a second shaped fast magnetic pulse applies forces on the rods that serve to focus them to a central target. Repeat magnetic pulsing brings all the rods to a central target between the magnets. These features provide the key advantage that therapy can now be focused to a deep target between magnets, for example to treat inoperable deep tissue tumors. Focusing of therapy to deep tissue targets has been a key goal in magnetic drug targeting, and prior efforts in this field have not yet been able to achieve this goal. This project addresses the following technology gap(s) as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application. Dynamic magnetic focusing of nanorods to a target between magnets was shown in benchtop experiments. In this NSF AIR TT research, the technology will be tested in tissue samples, scaled up to an in-vivo system, and its safety and utility shall be optimized and verified. In addition, personnel involved in this project will receive innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology translation experiences through developing and helping commercialize this technology.The project engages Weinberg Medical Physics who will act as an industry liaison and supply the effort with equipment, expertise, and with connections to strategic partners and future investors in this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.