Monday, November 3, 2014

Nanoparticle-based invention moves new drugs closer to clinical testing

Penn State College of Medicine researchers have developed a nanoparticle to deliver a melanoma-fighting drug directly to the cancer.
Delivering cancer drugs directly to tumors is difficult. Scientists are working on new approaches to overcome the natural limitations of drugs, including loading them into nanoparticles.
In previous research, Robertson discovered the cancer-fighting characteristics of leelamine, a substance derived from pine bark. But leelamine cannot be given by mouth because of poor uptake in the gastrointestinal tract or be injected intravenously because it causes damage to red blood cells.
To address this issue, Robertson and his team developed a new nanoliposome that loads leelamine, called Nanolipolee-007. Nanolipolee-007 can be injected intravenously without causing damage to red blood cells. It then accumulates in tumors because of its small size where it releases the drug to kill the cancer cells.
"This nanoparticle moves leelamine one step closer to the clinic," Robertson said. "We now have a drug that has the potential to be given to humans that could not be done before."

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