ChemoRad nanoparticles: a novel multifunctional nanoparticle platform for targeted delivery of concurrent chemoradiation.

AIM The development of chemoradiation - the concurrent administration of chemotherapy and radiotherapy - has led to significant improvements in local tumor control and survival. However, it is limited by its high toxicity. In this study, we report the development of a novel NP (nanoparticle) therapeutic, ChemoRad NP, which can deliver biologically targeted chemoradiation. METHOD A biodegradable and biocompatible lipid-polymer hybrid NP that is capable of delivering both chemotherapy and radiotherapy was formulated. RESULTS Using docetaxel, indium(111) and yttrium(90) as model drugs, we demonstrated that the ChemoRad NP can encapsulate chemotherapeutics (up to 9% of NP weight) and radiotherapeutics (100 mCi of radioisotope per gram of NP) efficiently and deliver both effectively. Using prostate cancer as a disease model, we demonstrated the targeted delivery of ChemoRad NPs and the higher therapeutic efficacy of ChemoRad NPs. CONCLUSION We believe that the ChemoRad NP represents a new class of therapeutics that holds great potential to improve cancer treatment.