CNSI scientists are developing new techniques that utilize nanotechnology to develop fundamental insight into the mechanisms underlying oncogenesis, malignant transformation and metastasis, new platforms for early-stage detection as well as systems for targeted delivery of therapeutic drugs tuned to specifically target cancer sites in the body.
The Silicasome

The development and preclinical testing of a smart nanocarrier developed by Andre Nel and his colleagues, the “silicasome”, which is capable of delivering optimal amounts of chemotherapeutic agents directly to pancreatic tumors with decreased side effects and increased efficacy. The approach is remarkably powerful and has attracted significant attention in the field as well as the interest of investors. This has led to the recent launch of our newest startup company, Westwood Biosciences Inc., which is focused on bringing silicasome technology to the clinic as rapidly as possible, and on expanding its applications to numerous other types of cancer.
AFFILIATED FACULTY: Huan Meng Andre Nel Jeffrey Zink
Vaults

Human vaults are intracellular ribonucleoprotein particle complexes which consists of a major vault protein (MVP), the outer shell, which houses two minor vault proteins (VPARP and TEP1), and several small untranslated RNA molecules. Naturally occurring human vault particles are ubiquitous and present in every human cell and are the most abundant cytoplasmic protein particle in human cells, 10,000 plus particles per human cell. They are highly stable inside the cytoplasm and no function is known inside the cell. Vaults are highly conserved evolutionarily and almost ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotes. Vaults form a large nanocapsule with a barrel-shaped morphology surrounding a large hollow interior. Evidence suggest that they are an early alert signal to the immune system once a cell is lysed and vaults are released into the intracellular space where they are rapidly engulfed by APCs.
AFFILIATED FACULTY: Leonard Rome
Mechanics of Cancer

Metastasis is responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths, representing over 500,000 deaths per year in the United States alone. Elucidating the mechanisms of malignant transformation and metastasis are vital to the early stage detection and effective therapeutic intervention. Led by members like Dino DiCarlo, research teams at CNSI are using microfabricated in-vitro systems that can replicate particular aspects of the tumor environment quantitatively and allow observation of the process of intravasation working to better understand the process and develop therapies targeted at the initial stages leading to metastases.
AFFILIATED FACULTY: Dino Di Carlo James Gimzewski
OTHER AFFILIATED FACULTY
Research News – Nanomedicine for Cancer
January 4, 2023 | Tiny implantable device designed by UCLA scientists helps kill cancer
Now, an interdisciplinary UCLA research team reports encouraging results in laboratory studies testing a tiny implantable device they call a SymphNode, which is designed to keep regulatory T cells in check only in the area around a tumor while summoning and strengthening tumor-fighting cells. The device was shown to drive tumors into remission, eliminate metastasis, prevent the growth of new tumors and result in longer survival in mice.
August 18, 2021 | CNSI awards Noble Family Innovation Fund grants to 10 UCLA nanoscience research teams
A new UCLA fund for high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary investigations has awarded its first set of grants. The Noble Family Innovation Fund, established with a philanthropic commitment to the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA totaling $10 million over...
Aug 7, 2019 | Scientists find Enzyme-Activatable Polymer
August 7, 2019 | Scientists find Enzyme-Activatable Polymer New drug conjugate augments tumor penetration and treatment efficacy by Global Communications The neutral long-circulating nanomedicine is converted into a cationic one by the enzyme on the luminal...
March 4, 2019 | UCLA-led study could point to ways to better control inflammation in autoimmune diseases
Hypothermia Devices Inc., a Brentwood-based medical device company that develops patient cooling-and-heating machines for emergency vehicles and hospitals, has raised nearly $11 million in investor funding, according to a Nov. 6 securities filing. March 4, 2019 |...
February 25, 2019 | Lab-grown mini tumors could help identify personalized treatments for people with rare cancers
UCLA scientists have developed a new method to quickly screen hundreds of drugs in order to identify treatments that can target specific tumors. February 25, 2019 | Lab-grown mini tumors could help identify personalized treatments for people with rare cancers New...
December 10, 2018 | Sprayable gel developed by UCLA-led team could help the body fight off cancer after surgery
Sprayable gel developed by UCLA-led team could help the body fight off cancer after surgery Sprayable gel developed by UCLA-led team could help the body fight off cancer after surgery Denise Heady | December 10, 2018 A scanning electron microscope image of a gel...
March 14, 2018 | Nanostructures created by UCLA scientists could make gene therapies safer, faster and more affordable
UCLA scientists have developed a new method that utilizes microscopic splinter-like structures called “nanospears” for the targeted delivery of biomolecules such as genes straight to patient cells. These magnetically guided nanostructures could enable gene therapies...
New method of drug delivery may be safer and more effective against pancreatic cancer
UCLA scientists have unlocked an important mechanism that allows chemotherapy-carrying nanoparticles—extremely small objects between 1 and 100 nanometers (a billionth of a meter)—to directly access pancreatic cancer tumors, thereby improving the ability to kill cancer...
Smartphone microscope offers cost-effective DNA sequencing and genetic mutation analysis
Just like an alphabet is made up of individual letters, DNA is composed of chemical bases. And in the same way that letters must be placed in a specific order to form words and sentences, the sequence of chemical bases is incredibly important in how DNA functions and...
How nanoscience will improve our health and lives in the coming years
Nanoscience research involves molecules that are only 1/100th the size of cancer cells and that have the potential to profoundly improve the quality of our health and our lives. October 26, 2016 | How nanoscience will improve our health and lives in the coming years...
Microscope uses artificial intelligence to find cancer cells more efficiently
Scientists at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA have developed a new technique for identifying cancer cells in blood samples faster and more accurately than the current standard methods. April 13, 2016 | Microscope uses artificial intelligence to find...
New technique greatly enhances digital microscopy images
Researchers from the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA have created a new technique that greatly enhances digital microscopy images. January 26, 2016 | New technique greatly enhances digital microscopy images Technique developed by UCLA researchers may be...