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

该PFI：空气技术转换(TT)项目旨在实现磁粉疗法的安全和有效的磁聚焦，以解决无法手术的深层组织肿瘤。拟议的脉冲磁聚焦技术将把纳米疗法输送到深层靶点，以便将化疗引导到体内需要进行的地方。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设备，在临床前研究中将纳米棒动态聚焦到深层目标。在这项研究中，生物兼容纳米棒首先通过快速磁脉冲在一个方向上对准，然后在它们可以转向第二个形状的快速磁脉冲之前，对用于将它们聚焦到中心目标的棒施加力。重复的磁脉冲将所有的棒带到磁铁之间的中心目标。这些特点提供了一个关键优势，即治疗现在可以集中在磁铁之间的深层靶点，例如治疗无法手术的深层组织肿瘤。将治疗的重点放在深层组织靶点一直是磁性药物靶向的一个关键目标，这一领域的现有努力尚未能够实现这一目标。该项目解决了以下技术差距(S)，因为它从研究发现转化为商业应用。在台式实验中展示了纳米棒对磁体之间的靶的动态磁聚焦。在这项NSF AIR TT研究中，这项技术将在组织样本中进行测试，并扩大到体内系统，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将该技术商业化，获得创新、创业和技术转化经验。该项目与温伯格医学物理公司接洽，后者将担任行业联络人，为这一从研究发现到商业现实的技术转化工作提供设备、专业知识，并与战略合作伙伴和未来投资者建立联系。

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.