With IFF’s help, these three acclaimed Atlanta institutions pioneer the use of nanotechnology to gauge tumor size, stop tumor growth, shrink tumors, and give children, their oncologists and surgeons time they need to fight. The following projects have been successfully funded by IFF:

“GAG” Project

Our most recent project, funded through Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, is referred to as the “GAG”

Project. This research is a novel strategy to physically contain slow growing tumors by spraying or bathing tumors with molecules that repel brain tumor cells. Therefore, our researchers are developing a brain tissue reactive material that can surround tumors to stop them from invading or growing into other regions. When successfully designed, the novel materials will “GAG” tumor growth, using naturally occurring sugars called CS-GAGs.

Imipramine Blue Project

This project creates a clear delineation of tumor margins for resection during surgery. Approximately 35% of all surgeries result in residual tumor left in the child. Using nanotechnology to mark tumor margins clearly with a blue solution provides surgeons accurate visual clues for resection during surgery with the goal of being able to resect the entire tumor safely, while sparing only healthy cells.

“Our results show imipramine blue stops tumor invasion into healthy tissue and enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy. These results reveal a new strategy for treating brain cancer and could improve clinical outcomes.”

– Dr. Ravi Bellamkonda

For more information, visit:

• Singing the Blues for Brain Tumors
• Anti-Invasive Adjuvant Therapy with Imipramine Blue Enhances Chemotherapeutic Efficacy Against Glioma

 Tumor Inhibitor Band Project

With time being the most sacred possession to a child and their family, this project focuses on the creation of a solution using nanotechnology which will in fact band a tumor in order to inhibit its growth, shrink the tumor, and give a child, their oncologists and surgeons time to act accordingly.

For more information, visit:

• Novel Compound Halts Tumor Spread, Improves Brain Cancer Treatment in Animal Studies

Nano Carrier Intervention Project

This project was designed to identify a novel nano carrier based intervention that limits the spread of brain tumors enabling conventional chemotherapy to be effective for invasive tumors. To date, the results seen are the first demonstration of invasive tumors being successfully treated with chemotherapy and which in turn, limits tumor spreading with nanotechnology. Results will be published shortly.

Tumor Migration Project

This research focuses on migration of tumors and excavation of cells. By directing tumor cells away from the interior of the brain to a location where they can be removed or killed more safely, this project has potential to open a new avenue for treatment of other invasive solid tumors such as brain stem tumors. This project may prove to be a “game changer” for cancers thought to be incurable because they are located in an inoperable region and/or because they are resistant or inaccessible to the delivery of chemotherapy agents. This project received the “EUREKA” award, (Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration) the first time ever won by anyone in Georgia’s history, and a 1 million dollar grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH). This research would not have been possible without IFF.

For more information, visit:

• www.choa.org/Childrens-Hospital-Services/Neurosciences/Programs-and-Services/Neurosurgery/Research-and-Publications/EUREKA-Grant