Development of Terbium-161 Labelled Nanoparticles

Promovendus/a: Tom Lemaître

Promotor(en): Prof. dr. Tatjana Vogt, Prof. dr. Thomas Cardinaels

Cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases of our time, and scientists around the world are constantly searching for new or better ways to treat it. One promising approach is targeted radionuclide therapy - using radioactive substances to selectively destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. This thesis focuses on developing tiny, radioactive particles that could one day help improve this treatment.

These particles are like miniature carriers that can be loaded with a special radioactive element: terbium-161. This isotope has unique properties that make it highly effective for cancer therapy. Unlike conventional treatments, which often damage both cancerous and healthy cells, terbium-161 emits radiation that travels only a short distance to create localised damages. This allows it to attack tumours with precision, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue and reducing harmful side effects.

However, having the right radioactive material is not sufficient— we also need to guide it to the tumour. That’s why we modified the surface of these particles by attaching molecules that bind to certain cancer cells in large amounts. This allows the nanoparticles to act like “smart bombs”, homing in on the tumour and delivering radiation exactly where it’s needed.

To test their potential, we conducted a series of experiments, from synthesising and characterising the nanoparticles to studying how they interact with cancer cells. While the final results showed that some improvements of the envisioned strategy are still needed, they also provided valuable insights into how we can optimise these materials for future applications.

This research contributes to the growing field of radiopharmaceuticals, opening doors for more precise and effective cancer treatments. While there’s still work to be done before these nanoparticles can be used in patients, they represent a step toward a future where cancer therapies are not only more powerful but also safer.