The fight against diseases, which at the moment are extremely difficult to treat, rightfully occupies one of the leading places in world medical practice. According to the forecasts of the World Health Organization, the number of new cases is expected to increase by about 70% in the next 20 years. Therefore, the development of a cure for this dangerous ailment is extremely important. Significant success was achieved by domestic scientists from NUST MISIS and Moscow State University and Medical Nanotechnology LLC. They managed to develop and start preclinical testing of a drug with an iron nanoparticle, which practically "burns" the tumor from the inside.
The essence of the drug's action lies in the fact that its 15 nanometer magnetite (iron oxide) nanoparticles are heated under the influence of a magnetic field, affecting the tumor and enhancing the effect of chemotherapy. If the drug passes the stage of preclinical trials, it will become the first Russian drug with a similar mechanism. The drug itself is administered intravenously. Then the required configuration of the magnetic field is created, after which the drug moves into the tumor formation. After the drug has "arrived", the same generator heats up the nanoparticles to a temperature of 42–46 degrees Celsius, from which the tumor cells die. Previously, particles of such drugs were made in the form of a ball, but Russian experts have created them in the form of a cube. This approach allows you to generate more heat due to a larger contact surface.
If the preclinical trials are successful, human clinical trials are planned for breast cancer patients. According to scientists, the technology is universal and in the future it can be used to treat other types of cancer. In case of successful completion of the entire series of experiments, the drug may appear on the shelves by 2025–2027.
VLADIMIR KUZNETSOV
