Targeting nanoparticles to malignant tissues for enhanced diagnosis and therapy is a widely explored concept. However, a review of literature from the past decade reveals that only 0.7% (median) of the administered nanoparticle dose actually reaches a solid tumor (Wilhem et al., Nat Rev Mater 1, 16014, 2016). Our mission addresses this 30-year fundamental limitation by visualizing nano-bio interactions occurring between nanoparticles and cells.

Peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM) include various primary tumors like peritoneal mesothelioma and secondary metastases from cancers such as ovarian, gastric, colorectal, appendicular, and pancreatic. While the pathophysiology is complex and not fully understood, recent advances are improving our understanding and treatment of these conditions. Challenges remain in providing effective treatment options and developing intraperitoneal therapies that match systemic treatments. Future progress hinges on new imaging, less invasive surgeries, nanomedicines, and targeted therapies to enhance patient outcomes (Cortés-Guiral et al., Nat Rev Dis Primers 7, 91, 2021). With our technology, we aim to provide a solution for cell heterogeneity to enable targeted treatment of PSM.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in older adults. It is marked by the presence of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, which result in the loss of synapses and neurons, ultimately leading to dementia. Early treatment efforts primarily targeted Aβ, but their limited success in slowing disease progression led to a shift toward addressing tau pathology. Since tau correlates more strongly with the severity of symptoms than Aβ, targeting tau is considered more likely to be effective once cognitive decline begins. Initial anti-tau therapies focused on post-translational modifications, inhibiting tau aggregation, and stabilizing microtubules. However, many drug trials were halted due to toxicity or lack of effectiveness (Congdon, et al., Nat Rev Neurol 19, 715–736, 2023). Our strategy aims to visualize the microenvironment of brain organelles in AD to develop an efficient, targeted treatment using nanomaterials.