Chonnam National University Park Inkyu Research Team Develops 'Nanoparticle' Colorectal Cancer Treatment Method

"Potential for Application in the Treatment of Various Solid Tumors"

Schematic of TAGNO gold nanoparticle-based photothermal, gas, and immune triple anticancer therapy. Provided by Chonnam National University

Chonnam National University announced on the 15th that the research team led by Professor Park Inkyu from the Department of Biomedical Science at the College of Medicine, in collaboration with Dr. Santhosh's research team from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick in the UK, has developed a groundbreaking nanoparticle-based therapy for the treatment of refractory colorectal cancer.

This study demonstrated that a triple therapy combining photothermal therapy, gas therapy, and immunotherapy using a nanophotosensitizer called 'TAGNO' can effectively eliminate refractory colorectal cancer cells. Notably, this platform maximizes therapeutic efficacy while overcoming the low efficiency and side effects of conventional cancer treatments.

'TAGNO' is a nanoparticle designed by combining a gold nanorod core, a cancer cell-penetrating peptide, and a nitric oxide (NO) donor BNN6. It is activated by a near-infrared (NIR) laser to generate localized heat at the tumor site and simultaneously release NO to stimulate immune responses.

This research has achieved significant outcomes, including precision therapy specialized for refractory colorectal cancer, the synergistic effect of triple therapy, and the promotion of immune responses after treatment.

The research results were published online in the Journal of Controlled Release under the title 'Triple-Action Cancer Therapy Using Laser-Activated NO-Releasing Metallomicellar Nanophotosensitizer for Pyroptosis-Driven Immune Reprogramming.'

This study was supported by the Immunotherapy Innovation Center Project under the Original Technology Development Project of the Ministry of Science and ICT, as well as the Complex Cancer Immunotherapy Center and the Mid-Career Researcher Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea.

Professor Park Inkyu stated, "The TAGNO platform has shown excellent efficacy in treating refractory colorectal cancer and has the potential to be applied to the treatment of various solid tumors in the future."