ENCANT · Nanoengineered particles for enhanced cancer radiotherapy

Current cancer research efforts are focused on obtaining targeted therapies, with greater precision, that lead to improved patient survival, with fewer adverse effects to ensure a better quality of life. ENCANT (nanoengineered particles for ENhanced CANcer radioTherapy) will contribute to this aim by developing new therapeutic agents based on biocompatible nanoparticles bearing high atomic number (Z) elements, which will enhance external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) effect on cancer tissue. This will allow the use of a lower radiation dose, consequently lowering adverse effects related to radiotherapy lack of specificity.The physicochemical properties of the NPs can be rationally designed according to different needs. NPs will be functionalized to increase their blood circulation time and facilitate their accumulation in the tumoural tissue. NPs will be tested in vivo to describe toxicity ranges, targeting efficiency and their therapeutic effect with external beam radiotherapy using in vivo cancer models.ENCANT will initially focus on high-Z NPs for prostate cancer (PC). Nevertheless, their adaptability should allow to use them for other tumour types, thus expanding their range of application. ENCANT aims to improve and expand oncology treatment options available to cancer patients thus providing them a more personalized treatment.