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，以治疗无法手术的深部组织肿瘤。提出的脉冲磁聚焦技术将把纳米疗法送到深部目标，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各种疾病的治疗。该项目将产生一个原型装置，该装置将在临床前研究中动态地将纳米棒聚焦到深部目标。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，然后在它们转身之前，第二个形状的快速磁脉冲对杆施加力，使它们聚焦到中心目标上。重复的磁脉冲将所有的棒带到磁铁之间的中心目标。这些特点提供了关键的优势，即治疗现在可以集中在磁铁之间的深层目标上，例如治疗无法手术的深层组织肿瘤。聚焦于深部组织靶点的治疗一直是磁性药物靶向的一个关键目标，在这一领域的先前努力尚未能够实现这一目标。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，研究了纳米棒在磁体之间对目标的动态磁聚焦。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，并对其安全性和实用性进行优化和验证。此外，参与该项目的人员将通过开发和帮助该技术商业化获得创新、创业和技术翻译经验。该项目聘请温伯格医学物理公司作为行业联络人，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，将这项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.