A new anti Covid-19 therapy has been developed thanks to research developed by the University of Sassari, in collaboration with the UCLA of Los Angeles and the Sardinian start-up Nanomater srl, and published in the journal of pharmaceutical chemistry. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
The team began work on the project early in the pandemic, when they gained insights into the mechanism by which the virus infects cells. In particular, those of the alveolar epithelium of the lung, starting from the idea of exploiting the same process as a therapeutic potential. In fact, the study is based on the action of intelligent “nanowavette” that guide the antiviral agents up to the selective recognition of infected cells or that could become infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus.
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The research, carried out by a team coordinated by the pharmaceutical chemist Mario Sechiof the University of Sassari, in collaboration with the nanotechnologist Vanna Sanna of the Nanomater and with the biologist Sandro Satta University of California, led to the creation of virus-like nanoparticles loaded with the antiviral drug Remdesivir, used as a model, and recently approved for the treatment of Covid-19 disease. The novelty introduced by the Sardinian researchers is that the “nanonavette” can allow the antiviral agent to reach already infected cells or which could become infected with more selectivity; in this way the antiviral can be used in contained doses and limit any unwanted effects for the body.
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Furthermore, the new technology offers the possibility of administering drugs for the treatment of Covid-19 by inhalation, an alternative to intravenous administration. The novelty introduced by the Sardinian team is that the nanonavette thus created can allow the antiviral agent loaded inside it to reach already infected cells (or that could be infected) with more selectivity, and therefore be used in contained doses. Approach that according to the team of researchers can be exploited not only for Remdesivir but also for any other agent potentially useful for the therapy of Covid-19.
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They explain that the results of the experiments conducted in the laboratory on infected cells showed a significant increase in the antiviral activity of the drug delivered and confirmed its competition with the virus as it entered the cell. “There is great satisfaction for the results obtained and for the attention received by European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry– comments Mario Sechi – Unfortunately, I must unfortunately note the absence of dedicated economic contributions, despite requests for support or participation in tenders sent to various institutions “.