European nanomedicine to create revolutionary new pharmaceuticals

According to the European Science Foundation (ESF), Europe is leading a revolution in pharmaceuticals. This was one of the major conclusions of a two-year study by the ESF entitled “Scientific Forward Look on Nanomedicine” presented in Brussels on December 15th.

Nanomedicine is the medical application of nanotechnology: the development of devices from single atoms or molecules, which are measured in nanometres. A nanometre is one billionth of a metre. Because of their tiny size – roughly one thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair – these devices have the unprecedented capability to probe and manipulate biological systems on a molecular level.

The miniscule size of nanomedical tools has several advantages, including the ability to densely pack a multitude of objects with different functions in a small space. Moreover, nano-scale objects have unique physical properties that are not available with larger objects.

According to Professor Ruth Duncan of the University of Cardiff, who chaired the ESF Forward Look report, one area in which nanomedicine is already offering tangible results is in the development of new drugs. One of the first nanomedicines to reach the market was a suspension of the anticancer drug doxorubicin in tiny particles of fat called liposomes. Packing doxorubicin into these nanoparticles extends its lifetime in the body, lowering its cost and toxicity while increasing its effectiveness.

Professor Alberto Gabizon, of Shaare Zedek Medical Centre and Hebrew University, said that several other types of nanoparticles are in development or have recently been approved for use in drug delivery. These include spheres made of the blood protein albumin and polymers like polyethylene glycol.

Professor Duncan, in particular, has been a key contributor to and promoter of the use of polymer nanoparticles to control the release of drugs in the body. She said that she felt very optimistic about the clinical results using a conjugate of the anticancer drug paclitaxel and a polymer of the amino acid glutamate.

Professor Gabizon added that he was confident that “formulations based on polymer conjugates and on liposome as carriers of drugs are going to multiply in the coming years.” He called the new formulations that are already coming into use “first-generation” nanoparticles. He went on to explain that, although they are relatively simple, these represent a major advance over previous ways of formulating drugs. He added that major advances have already been made in a “second generation”, in which the nanoparticles are linked to antibodies or small proteins that specifically target them to diseased tissues. These second-generation nanoparticles should become available over the next five to ten years. “Third generation” nanoparticles are currently under development. These combine multiple components, such as specialised nanomaterials, imaging agents, antibodies, and systems for controlled unloading of particle contents.

On the basis of the advances already made in nanomedicine, Professor Duncan concluded that “use of nanotechnology in medicine will make a major impact on the healthcare in the 21st century.” This revolution in pharmaceuticals is expected to increase in the number of available therapies, reduce drug side-effects and toxicity, increase drug effectiveness, and decrease medical costs.