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Cancer Imaging Program - Nanodelivery Systems and Devices Branch
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Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) established the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) to accelerate the progress of nanomedicine by providing preclinical characterization and safety testing of nanoparticles. It is a collaborative effort between the NCI, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).  

The NCL serves as a resource and knowledge base for all cancer researchers in academia, industry and government to facilitate the development and clinical translation of nanotechnologies intended as cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. NCL supports the characterization of:

  1. Concepts with proven efficacy for cancer therapy, diagnosis, or vaccines
  2. Novel, early-stage nanomedicine platforms with potential for cancer therapy
  3. Concepts intended to alleviate side effects, toxicities and other complications cancer patients experience as a result of anti-cancer therapy

Considering the relevance of nanoparticles to combat COVID-19 pandemic, the NCL also supports the characterization of nanotechnology-based COVID vaccines and therapeutics.

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There are multiple ways the NCL can help nanotech researchers and developers advance their technology, including characterization, formulation, optimization, lead selection, method development, and more.

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    Assay Cascade Characterization Program

    NCL has a free preclinical characterization service for developers of oncology-based nanoformulations to help in their development toward clinical trials.

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    cCRADA Collaborations - Tailored Solutions for Nano-related R&D

    cCRADA collaborations provide tailored solutions for an investigator’s nanotechnology-related development needs. Typical projects include nanotech formulation, characterization of non-oncology nanomaterials, mechanistic studies, method development, and more.

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    Technical Services

    Technical services are pre-defined statements of work for select NCL assays, with a fixed cost for each service. NCL provides two technical services, both based on the Stable Isotope Tracer Ultrafiltration Assay (SITUA) –an analytical method invented at NCL that can measure key nanomedicine fractions in plasma.

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    Protocols and Capabilities

    The NCL has developed a standardized analytical cascade that performs physicochemical characterization as well as preclinical testing of the immunology, pharmacology and toxicology properties of nanomaterials. The data generated can be used in regulatory filings, in publications, and to garner interest from investors.

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    About NCL

    The NCL was founded in 2004 in collaboration with FDA and NIST, as a public-private partnership to advance the science needed to expedite the development of promising nanotech therapies and diagnostics. The NCL has tested more than 450 unique nanomaterials and worked with more than 125 investigators worldwide.