Targeted drug delivery system refers to the method that selectively transports drugs to targeted tissues, organs, and cells through a variety of drugs carrier. Though tens of thousands of drug delivery systems have been developed, the effect has been minimal. This is because hundreds of proteins in the body stick to the drug delivery system (protein corona phenomenon). Because of this phenomenon, even when the drug reaches a target such as a cancer cell, the treatment efficiency is very low, and other side effects have been observed, which may cause toxic side effects.
"It was reported that it is possible to alleviate the impact of protein corona on target drug delivery through the formation of protective shield, made up of well-structured special proteins that are highly stable and do not interact with each other," says the co-senior author. "The new technology is much like the strategy where you take control of your enemies, using enemies."
In this work published in Nature Communications, the research team introduced the protein corona shield (PCS) concept for an efficient target drug delivery system. Using recombinant DNA technology, the research team has created recombinant fusion proteins with the enhanced physical stability and cancer-selective targeting ability. This fusion protein, then, was used as a shield to encapsulate the surface of nanoparticle drug carriers, thus constructing PCS nanoparticles (PCSNs).
In principle, nanoparticle drug carriers with a target ligand lose their targeting ability on being coated by blood proteins in a biological environment. However, the new PCS system can inhibit blood protein adsorption to maintain the targeting ability and avoid unwanted clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system.
To understand the interactions between PCSNs and external biological components, the research team has created an environment similar to human biological systems. This has been analyzed via computer simulation. The results showed about 10 times greater therapeutic efficacy in preventing the invasion of unwanted external proteins.
They also examined the effect of drug delivery using immune cells and cancer cells. The PCS drug delivery system could kill cancer cells without being caught by immune cells, even after long-term exposure to biological environments. In mouse models of cancer, the team found that the PCSN exhibit lower toxicity, as well as excellent tumor-targeting ability.
"Aside from treating cancer, our findings can also be applied to a variety of fields, such as the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, as well as the heat-optical therapy," says the senior author. "We plan to introduce a platform that will perform various roles while differently designing recombinant proteins in the future."
https://news.unist.ac.kr/nanoparticle-breakthrough-in-the-fight-against-cancer/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-06979-4
http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Fcloaking-nanoparticles&filter=22
Latest News
A change in brain function…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Feb
Structures of LRP2 reveal a…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Feb
The structure of a function…
By newseditor
Posted 05 Feb
How tumor suppressor loss e…
By newseditor
Posted 05 Feb
Regulating feature-specific…
By newseditor
Posted 05 Feb
Other Top Stories
Tiny wireless device stimulates vagus nerve to control appetite
Read more
Alzheimer's subtyping using RNA sequencing data
Read more
Cranial suture regeneration and neurocognitive defect mitigation by…
Read more
Exosomes from cardiac stem cells to treat dilated cardiomyopathy
Read more
Do an Altered Gut Microbiota and an Associated Leaky Gut Affect COV…
Read more
Protocols
High-yield vesicle-packaged…
By newseditor
Posted 05 Feb
Machine learning prediction…
By newseditor
Posted 09 Jan
Differentiating PC12 cells…
By newseditor
Posted 09 Jan
Ultrasensitive sensors reve…
By newseditor
Posted 05 Jan
In vitro-derived medium spi…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jan
Publications
Disinhibition of the orbito…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Feb
Renal control of life-threa…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Feb
Synaptotagmin-1 is a Ca2+ s…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Feb
Cardiometabolic health impr…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Feb
Regulation of ribosomal RNA…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Feb
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 10 Mar
ASCO-2020-GYNECOLOGIC CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 10 Mar