THERAPEUTIC NANOPARTICLES FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEUROBLASTOMA AND OTHER CANCERS

1 .- 70 . (canceled)

71 . A therapeutic nanoparticle comprising:

at least one oncologic drug; and

taurolidine,

whereby to provide the simultaneous delivery of the at least one oncologic drug and taurolidine, thereby harnessing the synergistic effect of taurolidine on the at least one oncologic drug;

and further comprising a coating, which is configured to release the at least one oncologic drug and taurolidine locally to the site of a cancer, wherein the coating comprises an absorbable polymer and wherein the coating is created from combinations of copolymers and multimers derived from polymers structured from at least one from the group consisting of l-lactide, glycolide, e-caprolactone, p-dioxanone, and trimethylene carbonate.

72 . A therapeutic nanoparticle according to claim 71 , wherein the at least one oncologic drug comprises at least one from the group consisting of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), an anti neoplastic drug, a cytotoxic drug, vincristine and doxorubicin.

73 . A therapeutic nanoparticle according to claim 71 , wherein the therapeutic nanoparticle further comprises at least one excipient.

74 . A therapeutic nanoparticle according to claim 73 , wherein the at least one excipient comprises a buffer so as to provide enhanced hydrolytic stability of the taurolidine and/or the at least one oncologic drug and the taurolidine.

75 . A therapeutic nanoparticle according to claim 71 , wherein the coating further comprises glycols.

76 . A therapeutic nanoparticle according to claim 71 , wherein the coating comprises binding molecules which are configured to target delivery of the nanoparticle to specific tissue.

77 . A therapeutic nanoparticle according to claim 76 , wherein the binding molecules comprise a fragment antigen-binding (Fab) fragment of a monoclonal antibody.

78 . A therapeutic nanoparticle according to claim 76 , wherein the binding molecules are configured to target neural tissue.

79 . A therapeutic nanoparticle according to claim 78 , wherein the binding molecules are configured to target at least one from the group consisting of neuroblastoma N-type calcium channels, glycine receptor channels and voltage gated potassium channels.

80 . A therapeutic nanoparticle according to claim 76 , wherein the binding molecules are embedded in or covalently bound to the surface of the nanoparticle.

81 . A method of treating cancer, the method comprising:

providing a therapeutic nanoparticle, the therapeutic nanoparticle comprising:

at least one oncologic drug; and

taurolidine,

whereby to provide the simultaneous delivery of the at least one oncologic drug and taurolidine, thereby harnessing the synergistic effect of taurolidine on the at least one oncologic drug;

and further comprising a coating, which is configured to release the at least one oncologic drug and taurolidine locally to the site of a cancer, wherein the coating comprises an absorbable polymer and wherein the coating is created from combinations of copolymers and multimers derived from polymers structured from at least one from the group consisting of l-lactide, glycolide, e-caprolactone, p-dioxanone, and trimethylene carbonate; and

delivering said therapeutic nanoparticle to a body so as to provide the simultaneuous delivery of the at least one oncologic drug and tarurolidine.