The short-term aims in the field of nanoparticle research include the development of new magnetic nanoparticles with increased heat development in the alternating magnetic field and the optimization of the primary coating of the nanoparticles for increased deposit stability in the tumor tissues. Both developments are supposed to significantly increase the treatment success and simultaneously further reduce the strain on the patient.

The goal of the long-term research efforts in the field of nanoparticles at MagForce is to adapt the Nano-Cancer^® therapy to systemic application. This means that in the future the nanoparticles will be interventionally introduced and then be able to find their way into the tumor on their own. Aside from the development of "intelligent" nanoparticles, MagForce also has been conducting research for some time into linking medications (drug delivery) to the iron oxide particles. This would mean that chemotherapeutic agents can be directly brought into the tumor and released there. This would reduce the damaging effects of chemotherapy, since the poisonous cargo would not have to go through the entire body before reaching its target.

EU project "MediTrans: Targeted Delivery of Nanomedicine"

MediTrans is a project of the Sixth Framework Program of the European Commission. A consortium of 30 partners from 12 countries is engaged in this project. Aside from 16 university partners, primarily from Germany and the Netherlands, 14 companies are participating in the project, among them Bayer Schering Pharma, Phillips and MagForce.

The main aim of the project is the development of nanoparticles for specific delivery into diseased tissue, whether for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The contribution of MagForce to this venture is the above described development of nanoparticles which can independently find their way into the tumor tissues after introduction into the bloodstream.

The project officially started on 01 Jan 2007 and is intended to run for four years. A total of EUR 16 million are being spent on research. Out of this sum, EUR 11 million are provided by the European Commission as a subsidiary.