New drug delivery method targets cancer cells – not the entire body – and limits chemotherapy side effects
Chemotherapeutic drugs excel at fighting cancer, but they’re not so efficient at getting where they need to go.
They often interact with blood, bone marrow and other healthy bodily systems. This dilutes the drugs and causes unwanted side effects.
Now, researchers are developing a better delivery method by encapsulating the drugs in nanoballoons – which are tiny modified liposomes that, upon being struck by a red laser, pop open and deliver concentrated doses of medicine.
Described April 3 in the journal Nature Communications, the innovation could improve cancer treatment, reduce its side effects and boost research about the disease, which annually kills millions of people worldwide.
The paper, “Porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) liposomes permeabilized by near-infrared light,” is available here:
http://bit.ly/1q0kXFf.
“Why PoP-liposomes, or nanoballoons, open in response to an otherwise harmless red laser is still a bit of a mystery to us, but we have definitely unearthed a new and unique phenomenon,” said corresponding author Jonathan Lovell, PhD, UB assistant professor of biomedical engineering. “Its potential for improving how we treat cancer is immense.”
Additional authors include students and a research technician at UB, as well as collaborators from the University at Albany; Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo; and the University of Waterloo and McMaster University, both in Ontario, Canada.
Roughly 1,000 times thinner than human hair, nanoballoons consist of porphyrin, an organic compound, and phospholipid, a fat similar to vegetable oil. Like conventional chemotherapy, they would be delivered to patients intravenously.
But because the nanoballoons encapsulate the anti-cancer drugs, they diminish the drugs’ interaction with healthy bodily systems.
In laboratory experiments performed with mice, Lovell hits the nanoballoon with a red laser at the target site in the body. The laser triggers the nanoballoons to pop open and release the drugs. As soon as the laser is turned off, the nanoballoons close, taking in proteins and molecules that might induce cancer growth. Doctors could then be able to retrieve the nanoballoons by drawing blood or taking a biopsy.
Thus, the nanotechnology could provide a “chemical snapshot” of the tumor’s environment, which otherwise is very difficult to assess.
“Think of it this way,” Lovell said. “The nanoballoon is a submarine. The drug is the cargo. We use a laser to open the submarine door which releases the drug. We close the door by turning the laser off. We then retrieve the submarine as it circulates through the bloodstream.”
Lovell will continue fundamental studies to better understand why the treatment works so well in destroying tumors in mice, and to optimize the process. Human trials could start within five years, he said.
The Latest on: Drug delivery method
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Drug delivery method” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Drug delivery method
- Scientists learn from caterpillars how to create self-assembling capsules for drug deliveryon April 26, 2024 at 8:00 am
Self-assembling molecules that spontaneously organize themselves to form complex structures are common in nature. For example, the tough outer layer of insects, called the cuticle, is rich in proteins ...
- Learning from caterpillars to create self-assembling capsules for drug deliveryon April 25, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Compared to conventional drug delivery methods, the nanocapsules are not toxic and can efficiently deliver various drugs with different properties. The self-assembly process is driven by differences ...
- A Closed-Loop Drug-Delivery System Could Improve Chemotherapyon April 25, 2024 at 3:19 pm
New CLAUDIA system could continuously monitor patients during an infusion, adjust dosage to maintain optimal drug levels ...
- Global Injectable Drug Delivery Market Set to Soar, Reaching US$ 113.87 Billion by 2034on April 24, 2024 at 9:57 pm
Injectable Drug Delivery Market is expected to reach an impressive US$ 113.87 billion by the end of 2034, at a CAGR of 8.70%.
- Vietnam Advanced Drug Delivery Market Onward and Upward Market Size’s Path to New Heightson April 24, 2024 at 2:01 pm
Request To Download Free Sample of This Strategic Report @ This country research report on Vietnam Market offers comprehensive insights into the market landscape, customer intelligence, and ...
- Cows' milk particles used for effective oral delivery of drugson April 24, 2024 at 11:16 am
Researchers have found that tiny particles present in cows' milk could offer, for the first time, an effective method for the oral delivery of RNA drugs.
- Biopharma Startup Keylika is Redefining Iron Deficiency Anemia with a Novel Iron Drug Skin Patchon April 24, 2024 at 11:04 am
Keylika has developed a first-of-its-kind iron molecule and an innovative delivery system that has immense potential to revolutionize drug delivery and development.
- Technion breakthrough for better drug delivery and tissue implantationon April 23, 2024 at 2:11 pm
Researchers develop ultrasound for non-invasive method for bio-printing live cells and tissues deep within the body.
- Bausch Health gets grant for drug delivery method using polyphosphazene-drug conjugateson April 23, 2024 at 5:56 am
Discover how Bausch Health's patented method using polyphosphazenes enhances drug delivery with high tumor selectivity and low toxicity.
- Technion scientists harness ultrasound for drug delivery and tissue implantationon April 23, 2024 at 1:48 am
Scientists from the Technion Faculty of Biomedical Engineering in Haifa made a breakthrough in drug delivery and tissue implantation, assisted by ultrasound. Prof Shulamit Levenberg’s research group ...
via Bing News