Nanoparticle-Based Approach to Regulate Cancer Metastasis

Researchers at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology have developed a novel nanoparticle-based approach to regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells, potentially inhibiting cancer metastasis. This innovation involves the use of N-cadherin nano-antagonists that induce mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) in cancer cells, leading to their inhibited migration, reduced invasion, and decreased adhesion to endothelial cells.

Key Takeaways:

• The researchers introduced a nanoparticle-based approach using N-cadherin nano-antagonists to mediate MET of cancer cells, which was found to inhibit cancer cell migration, invasion, and adhesion.
• The phenotypic transition of cancer cells and its molecular mechanism were verified and elucidated by single cell imaging and immunoblotting techniques.
• This approach offers a versatile, nanoparticle-based strategy to stop cancer cell migration by directing a specific phenotypic transition of cancer cells.
• The research concluded that modulating phenotypic transition of N-cadherin-rich cells could lead to new tools for building non-animal models and tissue engineering applications.
• The study received financial support from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
• The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the Chemical Engineering Journal.

Statistics:

• The study focuses on N-cadherin, a potential therapeutic target for regulating EMT and inhibiting cancer metastasis.
• The researchers used N-cadherin nano-antagonists to mediate MET in cancer cells, which was found to be effective in inhibiting cancer cell migration and invasion.
• The study found that the induced MET in cancer cells led to their inhibited migration on planar surfaces, reduced invasion through three-dimensional extracellular matrix, decreased adhesion to endothelial cells, and minimized transmigration across endothelial barriers.

Sources:

• NewsRx. Findings from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in the Area of Tissue Engineering Described (Nanoparticle and Photothermal Mediated Mesenchymal-epithelial Transition In Cancer Cells To Slow Cancer Cell Migration). Cancer Weekly. August 5, 2025; p 133.
• Wang, C., et al. Nanoparticle and Photothermal Mediated Mesenchymal-epithelial Transition In Cancer Cells To Slow Cancer Cell Migration. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025;517.