iCONM Laboratories
- Ichiki Lab
- Itaka Lab
- Kataoka / Kinoh Lab
- Kimura Lab
- Matsumura Lab
- Nishiyama Lab
- Kano Lab
- Muragaki Lab
Kataoka / Kinoh Lab
Principal Research Scientist/Laboratory Head
Kataoka, Kazunori

Center of Innovation (COI) Program (JST)
Center of Open Innovation Network for Smart Health (COINS)
Research Leader of COINS
Specially-appointed Professor, The University of Tokyo
Principal Research Scientist/ Deputy Head
Kinoh, Hiroaki

The University of Tokyo, School of Engineering
Visiting Scientist
Research Outline

Nanomedicine has already been recognized as a translational technology for efficient delivery of the chemotherapeutics to the diseased site, minimizing therapy related side-effects, which eventually ensures better quality of life (QOL) for the patient. In our laboratory, at iCONM, with the state-of-the-art research infrastructure, we focus on polymeric micelle based nanomedicines to treat intractable cancers. Polymeric micelle, a self-assembling nano-structure of amphiphilic block-copolymers, takes advantage of the "enhanced permeability and retention" (EPR) effect (that is based on the pathophysiological characteristics of solid tumor tissues) to preferentially penetrate and accumulate in solid tumors. In addition to EPR mediated selective tumor accumulation, precise control of the size of the nano-carriers, surface modification by disease-targeting ligands and engineered stimuli-triggered drug release mechanism can further enhance tumor selective delivery of therapeutics and thereby facilitate the interaction between loaded-drug and target cells or tissues. Confirming the practical application of these research strategies, several polymeric micelles incorporating the anticancer agents paclitaxel, SN-38, cisplatin, 1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum(II) (DACHPt) and epirubicin are being evaluated clinically (paclitaxel and cisplatin loaded micelles have already progressed to the third phase). We demonstrated (as shown in the above illustrations) that DACHPt incorporated micelle with strategically controlled size, is capable of bypassing the cytoplasmic detoxification mechanisms by selective dissociation within the late-endosome and thus releases drug close to the target site (nucleus in this case); ultimately overcoming oxaliplatin resistance in tumors and ensuring higher antitumor activity in pancreatic tumor model. Furthermore, our researchers have also successfully accomplished to encapsulate therapeutic small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) inside a ligand-decorated polymeric micelle system that conjures therapeutic activity toward solid tumors following intravenous (IV) administration. Comprehending that cancer stem cells (CSCs) with self-renewal capacity are the root cause of cancer recurrence and drug resistance, we are currently directing our research for methodical application of polymeric micellar nanomedicines to target and eradicate CSCs and thus to reinvigorate the global effort against an enduring challenge in the field of oncology.
Members
Name | Job title |
---|---|
Kataoka, Kazunori | Director General/Laboratory Head/Principal Research Scientist |
Kinoh, Hiroaki | Deputy Head/Principal Research Scientist |
Fukushima, Shigeto | Deputy Principal Research Scientist |
Mochida, Yuki | Senior Research Scientist |
Quader, Sabina | Senior Research Scientist |
Abbasi, Saed Amjad Yousef | Research Scientist (JSPS) |
Dirisala, Anjaneyulu | Research Scientist |
Hayashi, Kotaro | Research Scientist |
Joachim Van Guyse | Research Scientist (JSPS) |
LI, Junjie | Research Scientist |
Liu, Xueying | Research Scientist |
Paraiso, West | Research Scientist |
Tockary, Theofilus Agrios | Research Scientist |
Toh, Kazuko | Research Scientist |
Yang, Tao | Research Scientist |
Kaneko, Mai | Research Support Coordinator |
Sumida, Ushio | Research Support Coordinator |
Imasaka, Maya | Research Support Staff |
Nakatsuka, Moe | Research Support Staff |
Satoh, Yuki | Research Support Staff |
Tezuka, Yoko | Research Support Staff |
Amano, Akiko | Visiting Scientist (Tokyo Medical and Dental University) |
Anraku, Yasutaka | Visiting Scientist (The University of Tokyo) |
Cabral, Horacio | Visiting Scientist (The University of Tokyo) |
Kim, Beob Soo | Visiting Scientist (The University of Tokyo) |
Kim, Hyun Jin | Visiting Scientist (Inha University) |
Miyata, Kanjiro | Visiting Scientist (The University of Tokyo) |
Miyazaki, Takuya | Visiting Scientist (Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University) |
Naito, Mitsuru | Visiting Scientist (The University of Tokyo) |
Nakagawa, Yasuhiro | Visiting Scientist (The University of Tokyo) |
Oosawa, Shigehito | Visiting Scientist (Tokyo University of Science) |
Osada, Kensuke | Visiting Scientist (National Institute of Radiological Sciences) |
Qin, Changyuan | Visiting Scientist (The University of Tokyo) |
Shibata, Yu | Visiting Scientist (Tokyo Medical and Dental University) |
Tanaka, Yuji | Visiting Scientist (University of Yamanashi) |
Taniguchi, Hiroaki | Visiting Scientist (Keiogijuku University) |
Yamasaki, Yuichi | Visiting Scientist (The University of Tokyo) |
BOONSTRA, Eger | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
CHEN, Pengwen | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Hong Taehun | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Hochido, Hidekazu | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Igarashi, Kazunori | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Khan, Thahomina | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Kohata, Ai | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Masuda, Keita | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Miyano, Kazuki | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Nakamura, Noriko | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
OSAMA, Mohamed Nabil Abdelaty | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Prueksathaporn, Yosaphon | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Shibasaki, Hitoshi | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Tachihara, Yoshihiro | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Ushidome, Kotaro | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
Yang, Wenqian | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |
YUM, Jongmin | Trainee (The University of Tokyo) |