Nanotechnology Center

Pictured: Hedvig Hricak & David Scheinberg

Hedvig Hricak (left) and David Scheinberg are members of the Nanotechnology Center's executive committee, which Dr. Scheinberg chairs.

The Nanotechnology Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is a multidisciplinary, multidepartmental program that seeks to promote and facilitate the development of nanotechnologies for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and related diseases. The Nanotechnology Center draws on Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s expertise in the discovery, development, and clinical translation of new agents and technologies for oncology.

Nanotechnology is a science that seeks to understand and control matter at extremely small dimensions — between 1 and 100 nanometers. Nanoscale materials possess unusual physical, chemical, and biological properties, and have the potential to revolutionize cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. In particular, nanotechnology is opening intriguing new avenues for improving both the treatment and imaging of cancer.

The first generation of anticancer agents made with novel nanomaterials has successfully entered widespread use. Newer nanomaterials are garnering increasing interest as therapeutic and diagnostic agents.

The ability to control particular characteristics of nanomaterials — such as their size, shape, charge, surface patterning, and biochemical availability — offers investigators new opportunities to:

Develop therapeutics with a particle size small enough to overcome physiologic barriers to drug delivery
Examine nanoparticle interactions with cell membranes
Synthesize and characterize novel nanoparticles for simultaneous targeted cancer treatment and imaging
Develop minimally invasive probes for the detection and diagnosis of cancer

Nanotechnology could enable investigators to create intelligent drugs that can be specially engineered for increased cancer selectivity, enhanced pharmacokinetics, amplifications of cytotoxic effects, and multifunctionality, including simultaneous imaging capabilities.

biological (BY-oh-LAH-jih-kul)

Pertaining to biology or to life and living things. In medicine, refers to a substance made from a living organism or its products. Biologicals may be used to prevent, diagnose, treat or relieve of symptoms of a disease. For example, antibodies, interleukins, and vaccines are biologicals. Biological also refers to parents and children who are related by blood.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

cancer (KAN-ser)

A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

cell (sel)

The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body. All living things are made up of one or more cells.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

chemical (KEH-mih-kul)

A substance made up of elements, such as hydrogen or sodium.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

clinical (KLIH-nih-kul)

Having to do with the examination and treatment of patients.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

cytotoxic (SY-toh-TOK-sik)

Cell-killing.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

diagnosis (DY-ug-NOH-sis)

The process of identifying a disease, such as cancer, from its signs and symptoms.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

drug (drug)

Any substance, other than food, that is used to prevent, diagnose, treat or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition. Also refers to a substance that alters mood or body function, or that can be habit-forming or addictive, especially a narcotic.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

imaging (IH-muh-jing)

In medicine, a process that makes pictures of areas inside the body. Imaging uses methods such as x-rays (high-energy radiation), ultrasound (high-energy sound waves), and radio waves.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

multidisciplinary (MUL-tee-DIH-sih-plih-NAYR-ee)

In medicine, a term used to describe a treatment planning approach or team that includes a number of doctors and other health care professionals who are experts in different specialties (disciplines). In cancer treatment, the primary disciplines are medical oncology (treatment with drugs), surgical oncology (treatment with surgery), and radiation oncology (treatment with radiation).

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

nanoparticle (NA-noh-PAR-tih-kul)

A particle of that is smaller than 100 nanometers (one-billionth of a meter). In medicine, nanoparticles can be used to carry antibodies, drugs, imaging agents, or other substances to certain parts of the body. Nanoparticles are being studied in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

nanotechnology (NA-noh-tek-NAH-luh-jee)

The field of research that deals with the engineering and creation of things from materials that are less than 100 nanometers (one-billionth of a meter) in size, especially single atoms or molecules. Nanotechnology is being studied in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

oncology (on-KAH-loh-jee)

The study of cancer.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

pharmacokinetics (FAR-muh-koh-kih-NEH-tix)

The activity of drugs in the body over a period of time, including the processes by which drugs are absorbed, distributed in the body, localized in the tissues, and excreted.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

physiologic (FIH-zee-uh-LAH-jik)

Having to do with the functions of the body. When used in the phrase "physiologic age," it refers to an age assigned by general health, as opposed to calendar age.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

therapeutic (THAYR-uh-PYOO-tik)

Having to do with treating disease and helping healing take place.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)

translation (trans-LAY-shun)

In biology, the process by which a cell makes proteins using the genetic information carried in messenger RNA (mRNA). The mRNA is made by copying DNA, and the information it carries tells the cell how to link amino acids together to form proteins.

Source: The National Cancer Institute's Dictionary of Cancer Terms
(http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary)