Inside the Labcoat
EPISODE 4
Small Materials, Huge Potential: Nanoparticles
With Dr Nuria Lafuente Gómez
About the Guest
Dr. Nuria Lafuente Gómez began her academic journey at the Complutense University of Madrid, where she studied Pharmacy before earning a PhD in Organic Chemistry at the Autonomous University of Madrid. Although her doctoral research focused on fundamental chemistry, she explored magnetic nanoparticles during her PhD before continuing her research abroad. She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in Prof. David J. Mooney's Lab at Harvard University and the Wyss Institute, where her research focuses on biomaterials for immunotherapeutic applications.
Research Areas:
Nano Biomaterial – Cancer – Nanotechnology – Drug Delivery – Smart Nanoparticles – Immunotherapy
Key Takeaways:
Nanoparticles are extremely small materials whose high surface area and nanoscale dimensions have revolutionised drug delivery. There are many different types, including magnetic nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, and more, each with unique properties and applications.
There are two main approaches to targeted drug delivery with nanoparticles: passive targeting, which exploits the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect in solid tumours, and active targeting, in which the nanoparticle surface is modified to recognise or respond to characteristics of the tumour environment. Both approaches aim to increase the concentration of drugs delivered to tumour cells.
Although some nanoparticle technologies have entered clinical trials, important challenges remain before they can be widely used in medicine. These include understanding their long-term safety, ensuring biocompatibility, and overcoming barriers to successful clinical translation.
Main Topics Covered: Nanoparticles – Drug Delivery Systems – Smart Materials – Cancer Immunotherapy – Tumour Microenvironment