New micromaterial releases nanoparticles that selectively destroy tumor cells.
Posted by giorgiobertin on April 6, 2024
The researchers ofAutonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)in collaboration with the Sant Pau Research Institute and CIBER-BBN, have developed micromaterials composed exclusively of proteins, capable of releasing, over a long period of time, nanoparticles that can target and destroy specific tumor cells.
The technology used to produce these granules, patented by the researchers, is relatively simple and mimics the organization of the secretory granules of the human endocrine system and has been successfully tested in mouse models of colorectal cancer.
From the point of view of the chemical structure, it is the coordination of ionic zinc with domains rich in histidine, an amino acid essential for living beings and therefore non-toxic.
In an animal model of CXCR4+ colorectal cancer, the system showed high performance after subcutaneous administration and the released protein nanoparticles were observed to accumulate in the tumor tissues of mice.
“Importantly, this accumulation is more effective than when the protein is administered into the bloodstream. This offers a new and unexpected way to ensure high local drug levels and improved clinical efficacy, avoiding repeated intravenous administration regimens”explains Professor Antonio Villaverde.
Read abstract of the article:
Structural Stabilization of Clinically Oriented Oligomeric Proteins During their Transit through Synthetic Secretory Amyloids
Julieta M. Sanchez, Hector Lopez-Laguna, Eloi Parlade, Angela Di Somma, Andrea L. Livieri, Patricia Poplar, Ramon Mangues, Ugutz Unzueta, Antonio Villaverde and Esther Vazquez.
Advanced Science. March 19, 2024.
Source: Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
This entry was posted on aprile 6, 2024 a 6:31 am and is filed under News-research. Tagged: biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry, oncology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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