Korea University researchers develop inhalable nano-therapeutic for lung cancer

A research team led by Professor Kim Hyun-gu of Korea University Guro Hospital has developed an inhalable nano-therapeutic designed to target both lung cancer cells and the tumor immune environment simultaneously.

By utilizing lung surfactants naturally present in the body, the researchers created nanoparticles that improve drug stability and residence time within the lungs. The treatment delivers paclitaxel to cancer cells while using pemetrexed as a targeting agent to reach folate receptor-expressing cancer cells and tumor-associated macrophages.

In animal studies, the nanoparticles remained in the lungs for up to 48 hours and demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition compared to standard paclitaxel treatments. The study also observed a shift in the immune microenvironment from M2-type macrophages, which support tumor growth, to M1-type macrophages, which promote anti-cancer immune responses, without significant systemic toxicity.