# US 7,608,240 B2 · Nanotubes for cancer therapy and diagnostics > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,608,240 B2 - Document ID: US7608240B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/005,380 - Filed: 2004-12-06 - Published: 2006-03-30 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-12-05 - Assignees: Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas - Inventors: Dan A. Buzatu; Jon G. Wilkes; Dwight Miller; Jerry A. Darsey; Tom Heinze; Alex Biris; Richard Berger; Mark Diggs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608240B2 ## CPC - C07K 16/30: from tumour cells - A61K 41/0028: {Disruption, e.g. by heat or ultrasounds, sonophysical or sonochemical activation, e.g. thermosensitive or heat-sensitive liposomes, disruption of calculi with a medicinal preparation and ultrasounds} - A61K 47/6957: {the form being a device or a kit, e.g. stents or microdevices} - B82Y 5/00: Nanobiotechnology or nanomedicine, e.g. protein engineering or drug delivery - C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES ## Abstract The present invention provides a novel approach to cancer therapy and diagnostics that utilizes nanotubes and other similar nanostructures as both an indirect source of radiation therapy (BNCT), and as delivery vehicles for other types of radio- and chemo-therapeutic materials, as well as imaging agents for diagnostic purposes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for treating cancer, said method comprising: a) attaching a first antibody species to nanovessels to form a nanovessel-antibody composite species; b) introducing said nanovessel-antibody composite species into a mammal such that said nanovessel-antibody composite species selectively targets at least one type of cancerous cell; and c) exploding said nanovessels using at least one frequency of ultrasonic waves; wherein said at least one frequency of ultrasonic waves is adjusted to be absorbed by said nanovessels; d) attaching a second antibody species to BN nanostructures to form a BN nanostructure-antibody composite species, wherein said first antibody species and said second antibody species are selected from the group consisting of the same antibody species, different antibody species, and combinations thereof; e) administering said BN nano structure-antibody composite species to said mammal such that said BN nanostructure-antibody composite species selectively targets at least one tumor within said mammal; and f) activating at least some of the boron atoms in said BN nanostructure-antibody composite species. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said BN nanostructures are encapsulated with a bio-polymer, and wherein said second antibody species is attached to said BN nanostructures through said blo-polymer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating comprises irradiation with transdermal neutrons. ### Claim 4 A method for treating cancer, said method comprising: a) attaching a first antibody species to nanovessels to form a nanovessel-antibody composite species; b) introducing said nanovessel-antibody composite species into a mammal such that said nanovessel-antibody composite species selectively targets at least one type of cancerous cell; and c) exploding said nanovessels using at least one frequency of ultrasonic waves; wherein said at least one frequency of ultrasonic waves is adjusted to be absorbed by said nanovessels; d) attaching at least one radioactive isotope to carbon nanotubes to form at least one radioactive-laden carbon nanotube; e) attaching a second antibody species to said at least one radioactive-laden carbon nanotube to form a radioactive-laden carbon nanotube-antibody species; and f) introducing said radioactive-laden carbon nanotube-antibody species into said mammal such that said radioactive-laden carbon nanotube-antibody species selectively targets at least one tumor with radiation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein said carbon nanotubes are encapsulated with a bio-polymer, and wherein at least one component selected from the group consisting of said second antibody species and said at least one radioactive isotope is attached to said carbon nanotubes through said bio-polymer. ### Claim 6 A method for treating cancer, said method comprising: a) attaching a first IgG species to at least one BN nanotube to form a BN nanotube-IgG composite species; b) administering said BN nanotube-IgG composite species to a mammal such that said BN nanotube-IgG composite species selectively targets at least one tumor within said mammal; c) activating at least some of the boron atoms in said BN nanotube-IgG composite species; d) attaching at least one radioactive isotope to at least one carbon nanotube to form at least one radioactive-laden carbon nanotube; e) attaching a second IgG species to said at least one radioactive-laden carbon nanotube to form a radioactive-laden carbon nanotube-IgG species; f) introducing said radioactive-laden carbon nanotube-IgG species into said mammal; g) attaching a third IgG species to at least one nanovessel to form a nanovessel-IgG composite species; h) introducing said nanovessel-IgG composite species into said mammal such that said nanovessel-IgG composite species selectively targets at least one type of cancerous cell; and i) exploding said at least one nanovessel using at least one frequency of ultrasonic waves. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said first IgG species, said second IgG species, and said third IgG species are selected from the group consisting of the same IgG species, different IgG species, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one BN nanotube is encapsulated with a bio-polymer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein said first IgG species is attached to said at least one BN nanotube through said bio-polymer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one carbon nanotube is encapsulated with a bio-polymer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said second IgG species is attached to said at least one carbon nanotube through said bio-polymer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one nanovessel is encapsulated with a bio-polymer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of said third IgG species is attached to said at least one nanovessel through said bio-polymer.