Medical & Biotech – Page 126 – TechConnect Briefs

Oral Macrophage Mediated Gene Delivery System

Soto E., Ostroff G., University of Massachusetts Medical School, US

The efficiency of non-viral gene delivery is dependent on 4 factors: DNA protection, DNA delivery across membranes, endosomal DNA release, and nuclear uptake. Here we report on the development of a new delivery technology based [...]

Self –assembled Nanoparticles of Dextrin Substituted with Hexadecanethiol

Gonçalves C., Martins J.A., Gama F.M., Universidade do Minho, PT

Amphiphilic molecules, such as surfactants or lipids, spontaneously self-assemble in water, forming self-aggregates, such as micelles, bilayer membranes, tubes and vesicles. Amphiphilicity of biopolymers is one of the most important factors for their self-organization in [...]

Specific targeting and delivery of virus envelope-coated nanoparticle cargoes into receptor-bearing cells and subcellular compartments

Moore A.C., Kolokoltsov A.A., Davey R.A., University of Texas Medical Branch, US

We build on our recently reported work in Nano letters describing coating of nanoparticle cargoes with virus envelope proteins to show that the method works for viruses other than ecotropic murine leukemia viruses. We also [...]

Targeted Aptamer-Nanoparticles to Diminish Drug Resistance of Cancer Cells in vitro Study

Basto P., Alexis F., Levy-Nissenbaum E., Langer R., Farokzhad O., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US

Using prostate cancer as a model, we report the drug release of pacitaxel and doxorubicin from aptamer-poly (D,L lactic co glycolic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) nanoparticles used to target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a well characterized [...]

Polymer Nanospheres for Improved Drug Delivery of Protein Therapeutics and Viral Antigens

Castor T.P., Aphios Corporation, US

Biologically adherent polymeric microsphere carriers have been shown to be effective in the oral delivery of proteins such as insulin and DNA plasmids. These microspheres are comprised of hydrophobic copolymers that appear to have a [...]

A Targeted Nanotechnology-based Therapeutic System for the Combined Chemoprevention of Colon Cancer

Prabhu S., Kanthamneni N., College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, US

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in the USA. Current research is shifting the focus from chemotherapy to chemoprevention. The overall goal was to develop a low dose, novel [...]

Targeted Nanoparticle-Polypeptide Conjugates for Breast Cancer Treatment

Alexis F., Basto P., Radovic-Moreno A., Langer R., Farokhzad O.C., Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, US

We have developed a polymeric targeted nanoparticle-polypeptide conjugates that shows cell binding speficity and stealth properties. The targeted naoparticles binds and are taken up efficiently by Her2 expressing breast cancer cells. These nanoparticles represent a [...]

Drug Delivery

Delivery of Shiga Toxin 1 A Subunit into Epithelial Cells Using Silica-Based Nanowires

Kwon N.H., Beaux M., Sheng H., Ebert C., Wang L., McIlroy D.N., Hovde C.J., Bohach G.A., University of Idaho, US

Silica-based nanowires were used to introduce the Shiga toxin 1 A subunit (StxA1) into bovine and human epithelial cells. We extended our previous technology which employs fibronectin (Fn) as a ligand to induce integrin-mediated uptake [...]

Differential Uptake of PEG-Silica-FITC Nanoparticles by Human Breast Cancer Cells and Normal Human Breast Epithelial Cells

Iwakuma N., Sharma P., Delano M.J., Moldawer L.L., Moudgil B.M., Grobmyer S.R., University of Florida, US

Background: An understanding of uptake of nanoparticles (NPs) by human cancer cells and non-cancer cells is important for the development of NPs as novel cancer therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Hypothesis: Uptake of NPs is increased [...]