We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Nanoparticle Packaging Dramatically Increases Potency of Anti-Cardiovascular Disease Drug

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 06 Jul 2015
Print article
Image: The buildup of fatty substances in blood vessels caused by atherosclerosis stiffens and narrows the blood vessels resulting in the death of heart muscle (Photo courtesy of [US] National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute).
Image: The buildup of fatty substances in blood vessels caused by atherosclerosis stiffens and narrows the blood vessels resulting in the death of heart muscle (Photo courtesy of [US] National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute).
The use of biodegradable polymer nanoparticles to encapsulate a promising drug for treating atherosclerosis increased its residence time in the body of a treated mouse from less than one hour to at least four hours (and up to 48 hours or longer).

The drug, D-PDMP (D-Threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol), is a glycosphingolipid synthesis inhibitor. Previous studies had shown that it held considerable promise for the treatment of atherosclerosis and cardiac hypertrophy, but rapid in vivo clearance severely hindered its use in the clinical setting.

To overcome this impediment, investigators at Johns Hopkins University (Baltiomore, MD, USA) sequestered D-PDMP inside a biodegradable polymer composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sebacic acid (SA).

Some PEG-SA nanoparticles were labeled with PEG that contained a radioactive iodine tracer to allow in vivo bio-distribution and release kinetics of D-PDMP to be determined by using gamma-scintigraphy and subsequently, by mass spectrometry. Results published in the June 3, 2015, online edition of the journal Biomaterials revealed that polymer encapsulation increased the residence time of D-PDMP in the body of a treated mouse from less than one hour to at least four hours (and up to 48 hours or longer).

The substantially increased in vivo longevity provided by polymer encapsulation resulted in a 10-fold gain in the drug's efficacy for interfering with atherosclerosis and cardiac hypertrophy in a model based on mice genetically engineered to lack the gene for the apolipoprotein E receptor that were fed a high fat and high cholesterol diet.

"Our experiments illustrate clearly that while content is important, packaging can make or break a drug," said senior author Dr. Subroto Chatterjee, professor of medicine and pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University. "In our study, the right packaging vastly improved the drug's performance and its ability not merely to prevent disease but to mitigate some of its worst manifestations."

Related Links:

Johns Hopkins University


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
One Step HbA1c Measuring System
GREENCARE A1c
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
New
Gold Member
Fully Automated Cell Density/Viability Analyzer
BioProfile FAST CDV

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Gazelle Hb Variant Test (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy

Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.