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Research in the News

MU scientists awarded $3.1 million for nanomedicine research

An interdisciplinary team of University of Missouri-Columbia scientists has secured highly coveted federal grant funding for nanoparticle research. Their discoveries could improve methods of detection and treatment for patients with prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men.

The National Cancer Institute awarded MU a $3.1 million grant to expand the University’s research on nanoparticles, which are 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. While incredibly tiny, the particles hold enormous promise for advancements in medicine and technology.

“This grant puts MU among an elite group of universities that are being recognized as leaders in nanoparticle research,” said Dr. Kattesh Katti, a professor of radiology and biological physics and principal investigator of the grant project. “It really legitimizes MU as a national and international player in this growing field. We expect this grant will help us build our research and education capabilities even further.”

Earlier this year, MU opened a Nanoparticle Production Core Facility, which produces gold and silver nanoparticles used in medical research. The facility was established as a direct result of nanoscience discoveries made by Katti, who has several U.S. patents pending on his gold and silver nanoparticle research; as well as Dr. Kannan Raghuraman, an assistant professor in radiology; and Kavita Katti, a research chemist in radiology. The team has developed methods for producing nanoparticles that are biocompatible and well-suited for nanomedicine applications.

The NCI grant will aid MU as it designs and creates gold nanoparticles capable of imaging molecular abnormalities associated with the earliest stages of prostate cancer. Millions of the nanoparticles will be administered to target cancerous tumors in the prostate. Once the particles locate the early tumor, physicians will use an X-ray to see it. With this process, cancer may be detected in just one cell, possibly months or even years earlier than can be detected now.

“Dr. Katti’s leadership has placed MU and the state of Missouri on the map of nanotechnological breakthroughs, thus providing timely impetus toward the establishment of a ‘Nanomedicine Center,’ ” said Dr. Robert Churchill, chair and Lodwick Distinguished Professor in Radiology as well as a member of the scientific steering committee for the grant. “The center will conduct advanced nanomedicine research and formal training of our undergraduate and graduate students in the emerging area of nanoscience.”

MU is uniquely positioned to perform nanotechnology research because it has an interdisciplinary team of scientists – all on one campus – with expertise in radiology, veterinary sciences, pathology, physics, chemistry, isotope production, engineering and biocompatible nanoparticle development. Other members of MU’s research team include Dr. Evan Boote, assistant professor of radiology; Dr. Stan Casteel, professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Diagnostic Laboratory; Dr. Silvia Jurisson, professor of chemistry; Dr. Meera Chandrasekhar, professor of physics; Dr. Suchismita Guha, assistant professor of physics; Dr. Cathy Cutler, research scientist at the MU Research Reactor; Dr. David Robertson, professor of chemistry and associate director for research and education at the reactor; Dr. Steven Neal, professor of mechanical engineering; Dr. Sudarshan Loyalka, professor of nuclear and chemical engineering; and Dr. Dennis Lubahn, professor of biochemistry.

“Putting together a good, strong group of researchers with the expertise we needed for this project was a challenge, but it was well worth it because we got some great ideas out of the process,” said Katti, who is also a senior research scientist at MU’s reactor, the most powerful university research reactor in the world. “Now, we’re all ready to see if we can exploit the unique properties of nanoparticles, exploit the discoveries we’ve made in terms of how to create biocompatible nanoparticles, and actually put our discoveries and ideas to the test with a focused goal of developing nanoparticles for imaging and treating prostate cancer in humans.”

Dr. Charles Caldwell, director of Ellis Fischel Cancer Center and CRC Missouri Chair in Cancer Research, praised Katti’s team for its success in securing funding from the NCI. Caldwell is leading MU’s efforts to earn the NCI’s highest designation for Ellis Fischel.

“This outstanding group of nanoscience researchers has been and will continue to be extremely valuable contributors to our cancer research portfolio as we build toward a comprehensive cancer center designation,” Caldwell said.

The NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health, has embarked on a five year, $144.3 million initiative that will provide funding to research institutions that develop nanotechnology cancer research projects. MU is among 12 universities that make up NCI’s Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships. More information about the Katti's team and its new research grant is available at these NCI Web sites, http://nano.cancer.gov/alliance_awards/bios/platforms.asp#Katti and http://nano.cancer.gov/alliance_awards/fact/platforms.asp.