Find Funding
Contract Topics
241 Multifunctional Therapeutics Based on Nanotechnology
Number of anticipated awards: 3-5
(Fast-Track proposals will be accepted.)
Budget (total costs): Phase I: $150,000;
Phase II: $1,000,000
The deadline for receipt of all contract proposals submitted in response to this solicitation is: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Monday, November 5, 2007
Nanoscale delivery platforms carrying therapeutic payloads and delivered within close proximity of the tumor in vivo can play a significant role in increasing the effectiveness of the treatment while decreasing the severity of side effects. Such techniques would be highly relevant, particularly, for organs that are difficult to access because of a variety of biological barriers, including those developed by tumors. For example, nanoparticles are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier due to their small size and thus are an excellent candidate for non-invasive treatment of brain tumors.
Multifunctional nanoparticles, which are currently emerging, allow for a combination of an imaging agent with a therapeutic as a reporter of therapeutic efficacy in the same package. In conjunction with the development of these devices, local targeting techniques are emerging. This process can utilize specific epitopes expressed on tumor cells or other cellular markers of biological processes such as angiogenic and apoptotic pathways. In molecular oncology, this is potentially useful as a general approach since it allows for targeting of multiple cancers or more broadly for targeting of multiple diseases. For instance, there are already examples of multi-functional nanoparticles that target vascular peptides, growth factor receptors, transmembrane proteins such as ion channels, and are utilized for both cancer and cardiovascular disease recognition.
To accelerate such efforts, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) requests proposals for the development of commercially-viable nanotechnology-based multifunctional therapeutics (designed to deliver chemotherapeutics to cancerous cells while sparing normal, healthy tissue), leading to increased therapeutic index and improved patient outcomes.
Project goals:
The goal of this project is to develop an in vivo nanoparticle-based delivery platform with improved efficacy as compared to currently used treatments. For example, these devices can take the form of multi-functional nanoparticles carrying encapsulated drugs. The platforms may also utilize imaging agents for a combination of therapeutic and diagnostic modalities that aim to provide real-time feedback and monitoring of therapy. To increase commercial success, it is highly recommended that the nanoparticle system be administered orally or systemically, rather than intratumoral implantation. They may include, but are not limited to the following:
- novel therapeutic nanoparticles
- novel tumor targeting and concentrations schemes
- novel drug loading and releasing schemes
- novel nanoparticles able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Phase I Activities and expected deliverables:
- Demonstration of targeting and/or concentration techniques for a specific organ/disease.
- Proof of concept small animal studies showing improved therapeutic efficacy as compared to the use of free drug.
- Fabrication techniques resulting in the manufacturing of nanoplatforms with good reproducibility should be developed. The novel use of existing particles acquired from the commercial manufacturer will also be considered under this program.
Phase II Activities and expected deliverables:
- In vivo small animal drug efficacy demonstration (at least 60 day study with statistically relevant number of animals) utilizing an appropriate animal model.
- Long-term toxicity studies (biodistribution and bioelimination for IV administered nanodevices and biocompatibility for implanted devices).
- Nanoplatform manufacturing and scale-up activities.
- IND-enabling studies carried out in a suitable pre-clinical environment
- Initiation of large animal studies
