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ABOUT THE TEAM

Lahjavida's Ph.D. chemists are working with the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and The University of Colorado, Denver, Anschutz Medical Center. They have successfully validated the testing in three cancer types. Lahjavida also has a medical advisory board of cancer doctors from the University of Colorado and MD Anderson.

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD

Dr. Dan Theodorescu, MD, Ph.D.

Director, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive
Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai

Dr. Daniel LaBarbera, Ph.D.

Director, Center for Drug Discovery

CU Anschutz Cancer Center

Dr. Chun Li, Ph.D.

Professor and Director, Cancer
Systems Imaging

MD Anderson Cancer Center

RESEARCH TEAM

Lyle Small

Founder/CEO, Lahjavida

Ray Wang, Ph.D. Synthetic

Chemist, Lahjavida

Shane Crippen, Ph.D.

CTO, Lahjavida

Dr. Anatoly Pinchuk, Ph.D. 

Professor Physics, Chemistry UCCS

BACKGROUND

It is well-known that certain classes of fluorescent dyes bind selectively to over 25 different cancer types. (Biomaterials, 2012, 33, 2230-2239) It has also been established that gold nano-particles can be heated using otherwise harmless radiowaves. (Advanced Drug Delivery 2017 (109) 84–101: Allen, et al)  By combining these two materials into a single compound, referred to as a “conjugate,” we have shown that the dye will continue to bind to cancer cells, bringing the gold nano-particles along, which can then be heated remotely using radiowaves, destroying or denaturing the cancer cells. This effect has been shown in three different types of experiments (and three different types of cancer as well) and the results have been repeated several times each, with consistency.  We have demonstrated that this conjugate will penetrate deep within a tumor of over 5,000 cancer cells.  Finally, we have demonstrated that we can heat up the gold nano-particles.  This is a big deal.

 

Three internationally recognized experts in cancer research have seen our results and based on these results, have each agreed to join our advisory board.  All agree that what we have achieved to date is compelling.  They have recommended that we move to mouse studies as quickly as possible to determine whether or not the conjugate has deleterious effects in the animal.  

 

Progress to date:

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  1. Binding of dye to linker molecules while enhancing tumor selectivity.

  2. Binding the dye/linker molecules to 20 nanometer gold nano-particles.

  3. Confirmed that the fluorescence characteristics of the dye are maintained.

  4. Exposed the dye-gold compound (“conjugate”) to both cervical and breast cancer cells.

  5. Measured the uptake of the conjugate in cancer cells and found 3X104gold particles per cell.

  6. Confirmed the presence of gold in the cancer cells using three different techniques.

  7. Created “negative control” molecules and saw no significant uptake in cancer or healthy cells.

  8. Attached the dye to the linker from a new location on the dye and changed its’ uptake character.

  9. Three nationally recognized cancer researchers believe our findings have merit.

  10. All researchers have agreed to serve on our board of advisors.

  11. Dr. Daniel LaBarbera has independently tested our conjugate in his laboratory at the University of Colorado, Denver.

  12. Dr. LaBarbera has tested the conjugate with clusters of cancer cells called “organoids”, which mimic tumors. (Figure 2 - Cross-sections of tumor organoids of 3-5,000 cells each from Dr. LaBarbera’s lab.)

  13. Those tests showed conclusively (through repeated testing) that the conjugate binds selectively to colon cancer tumors at a high rate, penetrating to the inside of the tumor (see Figure 2 below) and;

  14. That when the dye is attached to a linker in a “new” location, the affinity for the cancer cells changes and the conjugate binds to the outer “growing” cells. (see Figure 2 below)

  15. Dr. LaBarbera is an internationally recognized drug discovery scientist and has agreed to serve on our advisory board.

 

All data and research methods available upon request.

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