New thesis paves the way for non-invasive colorectal cancer treatment

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, and although radiotherapy and surgery have increased the estimated five-year survival rate to almost 70 percent, these treatments involve demanding procedures that not all patients can endure. Therefore, the need for concentrated, non-invasive treatments is great, and in a new thesis at Uppsala University, Yuming Zhang introduces methods that enable both oral and rectal delivery of tumor-killing nanoparticle formulations.

“Using magnetic nanoparticles and innovative formulations, we have developed a patient-friendly method that enables both diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer without invasive procedures. The nanoparticles can generate heat under a magnetic field and can also be used as contrast agents for MRI imaging. We have successfully tested our formulation in mice and, through its heating effect, managed to reduce the size of the tumor by 63 percent in 20 minutes,” says Yuming Zhang, PhD student at the Department of Pharmacy.

In her research, Yuming Zhang applied a polyethylene glycol layer to the nanoparticles, increasing their stability in order to prevent them from clumping together in biological fluids. By adding complementary chemical groups to the nanoparticle surface, she enabled a click reaction with tumor-specific antibodies. Using an MRI scanner, the nanoparticles were visible in a tumor phantom, enabling the diagnosis of intestinal tumor diseases.

“In the next phase, we developed a magnetic hydrogel that remains liquid at room temperature but solidifies in the body. This allowed us to place the gel directly on the tumor, providing a concentrated and rapid tumor-killing effect via nanoparticle heating. Some time later, when I was casting candles, I got the idea to package the particles in wax capsules, which in the laboratory turned out to work perfectly. So now we also have a method for oral particle delivery, where we can use alternating magnetic fields to make the nanoparticles generate heat, melt the wax capsule, and release the drug at the gut lesion.”

The team’s innovative approach is already attracting great attention at numerous international conferences, and although further studies are required before clinical trials are possible, Yuming Zhang’s findings confirm that targeted, non-invasive therapy using magnetic nanoparticles has great potential in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

“After four years at the Faculty of Pharmacy, I can only confirm that everything positive I had heard—and that initially made me apply for a position at Uppsala University—is true. My supervisor, Alexandra Teleki, has given me all the support a PhD student could wish for. My colleagues were all both kind and supportive, and even if I am currently keeping all professional doors open, I want to emphasize the honor it has been to be part of Uppsala’s Molecular Pharmaceuticals research environment.”

Text: Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt a o