Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 11, 2025

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
14:20

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?

Published on: June 13, 2014

16.8K

Drug-Free Approach to Regulate Undruggable Proto-Oncogene MYC Using Biomimetic Porous Nanoparticles for Cancer

Emilia Happonen1, Yijing Dang2, Jiajia Wang1

  • 1Department of Technical Physics, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|August 11, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Drug-free photothermal therapy (PTT) using black porous silicon nanoparticles effectively regulates the MYC proto-oncogene. Precise temperature control is key, with 50°C inhibiting MYC to enhance cancer immunotherapy and prevent tumor growth.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cancer Research
  • Immunotherapy

Background:

  • The MYC proto-oncogene is critical for immune response but remains undruggable, with existing inhibitors showing limited efficacy and high toxicity.
  • Drug-free strategies for MYC regulation are underexplored, presenting a significant gap in cancer treatment research.
  • Developing novel therapeutic approaches to target MYC is essential for advancing cancer immunotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of drug-free photothermal therapy (PTT) in regulating the MYC proto-oncogene.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of biomimetic black porous silicon (BPSi) nanoparticles in PTT-mediated MYC regulation.
  • To explore the underlying mechanisms and in vivo therapeutic effects of PTT-induced MYC modulation for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of biomimetic black porous silicon (BPSi) nanoparticles coated with cancer cell membrane and polyethylene glycol.
  • Application of PTT using BPSi nanoparticles at controlled temperatures (46°C and 50°C) to treat tumors.
  • Analysis of MYC expression levels, downstream targets ('MYC Targets V1'), and signaling pathways (MAPK, JAK-STAT).
  • In vivo assessment of tumor growth inhibition and toxicity in a tumor-bearing model.

Main Results:

  • BPSi nanoparticles demonstrated efficient photothermal conversion, biocompatibility, and tumor targeting.
  • PTT at 50°C successfully inhibited MYC expression, whereas PTT at 46°C upregulated it.
  • MYC inhibition was linked to the downregulation of 'MYC Targets V1' and involvement of MAPK and JAK-STAT pathways.
  • Tumor-targeted PTT at 50°C activated cancer immunotherapy, prevented tumor growth, and showed no significant in vivo toxicity.

Conclusions:

  • Drug-free PTT using BPSi nanoparticles can effectively regulate MYC expression by precise temperature control.
  • Targeted PTT offers a promising strategy for MYC inhibition, leading to enhanced cancer immunotherapy.
  • This approach holds potential for developing potent and less toxic cancer therapies by modulating MYC.
Keywords:
antitumor immune responsedrug-freephotothermal therapyporous silicon nanoparticlestumor immune microenvironment

More Related Videos

Monitoring of Nanodrug Accumulation in Murine Breast Cancer Metastases09:48

Monitoring of Nanodrug Accumulation in Murine Breast Cancer Metastases

Published on: August 23, 2024

487
A Nonviral Approach to Generate Transient Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells Using mRNA for Cancer Immunotherapy09:56

A Nonviral Approach to Generate Transient Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells Using mRNA for Cancer Immunotherapy

Published on: February 21, 2025

795

Related Concept Videos

Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
4.6K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.8K
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells01:06

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Somatic...
4.4K
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
6.7K
Mouse Models of Cancer Study02:43

Mouse Models of Cancer Study

Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
5.7K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.9K