Abstract

Innovative Precision Medicine Through Green Nanotechnology

Kattesh V. Katti, Director, Institute of Green Nanotechnology / Radiology / Cancer Nanotechnology Platform, University of Missouri

This lecture will discuss discoveries made in Dr. Katti’s laboratory of novel nanomaterials through Green Nanotechnology and their important applications in Holistic Medicine. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 9 million people died of cancer in 2015 (1). As March 20, 2016, over one million (1,351,134) people have died from cancer just in the first three months globally. The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decades. Among men, the 5 most common types of cancer diagnosed are lung, prostate, colorectum, stomach, and liver cancers, whereas the 5 most common sites, diagnosed in women across the world, were breast, colorectum, lung, cervix, and stomach cancer. A number of new therapeutic interventions to combat various forms of human cancer have been developed over the last several decades. However, cures have been rare because tumors bear innate characteristics to become resistant to various forms of treatment. It is becoming increasingly clear that various chemotherapeutic and radiation-based treatment modalities activate NF-?B transcription factors and such a signaling pathway is responsible for triggering various pro-tumorigenic cascade of processes within the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, new treatment modalities must address targeting NF-?B transcription factors for cross talk between cell signaling and macrophage reeducation within the tumor microenvironment. Gaining insights in such interactions is crucial for elucidating the molecular basis of cancer progression and for designing novel macrophage-mediated immunotherapeutic strategies for treating various forms of human cancer. This lecture will discuss recent results on the design concepts, through rationally rather than empirically, of specific small-molecule phytochemical(s)- functionalized gold nanoparticles to simultaneously achieve: (i) Imaging; (ii)Inhibition of NfkB activation; (ii) Targeting TAM; (iii) Inhibition of TNF-a induced p65 phosphorylation; and concomitant immunomodulatory therapeutic action. Details on the importance of interaction of various different types of cancer cells with immunotherapeutic nanoparticles for stopping the infiltrating aggressive tumor proliferating M2 type macrophages to achieve effective tumor therapy will be presented (2-3). The lecture will highlight the importance of such precision medicine innovative approach for the highest clinical impact to enhance TAM targeted anti-tumoral survival for enhancing quality of life for prostate, pancreatic, lung and breast cancer patients.