Jianqin Lu, John A. & Frances P. Ware Endowed Associate Professor, University of Arizona & Co-Founder, SPH Therapeutics analysed the development and application of sphingomyelin-based nanotechnology for cancer therapy. Lu’s research focuses on using sphingomyelin, a sphingolipid found in mammalian cell membranes, to create liposomes that can conjugate with various drugs. These nanocarriers are designed to improve drug and gene delivery for cancers such as colorectal, breast, and pancreatic cancer.
The key advantages of this approach include enhanced pharmacokinetics, improved tumour targeting, and reduced systemic toxicity compared to free drugs. The nanocarriers exploit the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect in tumours, allowing for greater accumulation at the tumour site and prolonged circulation half-life. This strategy also enables the use of drugs that are otherwise difficult to deliver due to solubility or toxicity issues, such as camptothecin (CPT). By conjugating CPT with sphingomyelin, the team overcame its limitations, enabling higher dosing without increased side effects.
The research further explores combination and co-delivery strategies, where multiple drugs (e.g., CPT, doxorubicin, and IDO inhibitors) are delivered in a single nanocarrier. This results in synergistic effects, improved tumour uptake, and enhanced immune responses, including memory effects that prevent tumour recurrence. Innovative surface engineering, such as charge-reversal and CD47-coating, is used to improve tumour penetration and evade immune clearance, particularly in challenging cancers like pancreatic cancer.
Lu wrapped up his presentation by pointing to the broad potential of this nanotechnology platform, which is being expanded to other drugs and therapeutic targets. The work demonstrates significant improvements in efficacy, safety, and immune activation, laying the foundation for next-generation cancer nanomedicines.
