Researchers at the University of Warwick in Britain have developed a new “triggered-release” mechanism that could improve drug delivery in the treatment of various cancers and other diseases.
The new method uses two “parent” nanoparticles that are designed to interact only when in proximity to each other and trigger the release of drug molecules contained within both.
The release of the drug molecules from the ‘parent’ nanoparticles could subsequently form a third ‘daughter’ particle, which comprises molecules from both ‘parent’ nanoparticles.
“We conceive that in the blood stream, the particles would not be able to interact sufficiently to lead to release only when they are taken into cells would the release be able to happen”, said professor Andrew Dove.
In this way, the drug can be targeted to only release where we want it to and, therefore, be more effective and reduce side effects, he added.
The chemical composition of the two ‘parent’ nanoparticles is crucial to the new method. Professor Dove explains:
“The two ‘parent’ nanoparticles used in the new mechanism are cylindrical in shape and are made from polymer chains that differ only by the way in which chemical bonds are directed within a part of the structure.
“When the two ‘parent’ nanoparticles are in close enough proximity the polymer chains are driven to come together to form a new ‘daughter’ nanoparticle by a phenomenon known as stereocomplexation.
“In the process of this rearrangement, we propose that any molecules, such as drug molecules, that are encapsulated within the parent particles will be released.”
The new mechanism could potentially limit side effects by only releasing the drug where required.
The research appeared in the journal Nature Communications.
Reference:
Liang Sun, Anaïs Pitto-Barry, Nigel Kirby, Tara L. Schiller, Ana M. Sanchez, M. Adam Dyson, Jeremy Sloan, Neil R. Wilson, Rachel K. O’Reilly & Andrew P. Dove. Structural reorganization of cylindrical nanoparticles triggered by polylactide stereocomplexation. Nature Communications 5, Article number: 5746 (2014) doi:10.1038/ncomms6746
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