Using tiny gold particles to find new targets for cancer treatment
Exploiting gold nanoparticle as a probe to identify therapeutic targets
Researchers are using tiny gold particles that grab tumor-related proteins to uncover new treatment targets for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oklahoma City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235184 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses self-therapeutic gold nanoparticles that naturally pick up certain tumor-promoting proteins when exposed to biological fluids, creating a protein 'corona.' The team will test different nanoparticle sizes to see which best binds and alters those proteins, then identify the captured proteins. They will test the effects in cancer cells and animal tumor models to see if blocking those proteins slows tumor growth or reverses treatment resistance. The goal is to point to proteins that could become new drug targets for human cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with solid tumors such as ovarian or pancreatic cancer who might donate tumor samples for research or be interested in future trials based on these findings are the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment benefit or those without cancer are unlikely to gain direct clinical benefit from this laboratory- and animal-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new drug targets that slow tumor growth, reduce spread, or make existing chemotherapy work better.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies have shown gold nanoparticles can bind and inhibit some tumor-promoting proteins and improve chemo response, but using them as probes to identify therapeutic targets is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Oklahoma City, United States
- University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr — Oklahoma City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mukherjee, Priyabrata — University of Oklahoma Hlth Sciences Ctr
- Study coordinator: Mukherjee, Priyabrata
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 below.