Mucin-1 targeted nanoparticles delivering chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer
Official title: Stimuli-responsive mucin1-specific nanoparticles for efficacious combinatorial chemotherapy of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Funded at University of North Carolina Charlotte · NIH-11380928 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new targeted nanoparticle system is being developed to deliver chemotherapy directly to pancreatic cancer cells in order to improve treatment outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Carolina Charlotte NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlotte, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $431,338 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA263897-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380928 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with PDAC or at high risk where targeted nanoparticle therapy could be applicable in future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with PDAC who cannot tolerate nanomedicine therapies or whose tumors do not express the targeted MUC1 may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by using smart, mucin-1–targeted nanoparticles that release cisplatin and gemcitabine directly to tumors. The approach focuses on maximizing drug delivery to cancer cells while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue. If successful, this could lead to more effective therapies for PDAC patients who currently have poor survival rates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with PDAC may experience more effective treatments with fewer side effects due to targeted drug delivery.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest that targeted, stimuli-responsive nanoparticles can improve drug delivery to tumors in pancreatic cancer models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Charlotte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vivero-Escoto, Juan Luis — University of North Carolina Charlotte
- Study coordinator: Vivero-Escoto, Juan Luis
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.