SAFER IMAGING. SMARTER SCIENCE. WHY WE SUPPORTED THIS STUDY ON IRON NANOPARTICLES
- Margarita Kilpatrick
- Nov 18
- 1 min read
There’s no shortage of bold claims in cancer research. But every now and then, the science really earns it.

That’s what happened with a recent study the JKTG Foundation supported, one that explored how iron-based nanoparticles could help detect and treat tumors more safely. This wasn’t hype. It was smart, specific science. And it’s the kind of work we’re proud to back.
The researchers tested several different types of iron oxide nanoparticles to see how they moved through the body, how the immune system responded, and whether any toxicity showed up over time. Some context: iron nanoparticles are already approved by the FDA for other uses. But this study went deeper, looking at how the surface coating of these particles (like PEG or HES) affected where they went in the body, and what they interacted with.
Here’s what stood out:
No signs of long-term liver or kidney damage in mice 60 days post-injection.
Only short-term immune responses, which quickly normalized.
PEG-coated particles accumulated in tumors, making them easier to detect.
That last point matters. Because in cancer care, being able to “see” tumors more clearly and safely can lead to earlier intervention, better targeting, and ultimately better outcomes.
We’ve been supporting the research teams behind this work for years, especially Dr. Robert Ivkov and Dr. Preethi Korangath at Johns Hopkins. This is just the latest step in a much longer journey to develop safer, more effective cancer imaging and therapy tools.
As I often say, you get better results when you back the right people with the right focus. This study is a great example of that.



