Experts develop nanoparticles for tumour-targeted response
In a major scientific breakthrough, Indian researchers have collaborated to develop peptide nanoparticles that may be used as vehicles for targeted drug delivery for tumours.
In a major scientific breakthrough, Indian researchers have collaborated to develop peptide nanoparticles that may be used as vehicles for targeted drug delivery for tumours.
The study -- Modified dipeptide based nanoparticles: Vehicles for targetted tumour drug delivery published in the journal Nanomedicine says that different nanoparticles have been investigated to deliver chemotherapeutic agents but complex synthetic procedures and biocompatibility issues raise concerns in developing them for safe human usage.
The research was done collectively by the scientists at the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences and National Center for Cell Science, Pune.
“Conventional treatment methods such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy are not fully safe and free from side effects despite all the progress made in this area. Peptides-based nanoparticles are attracting attention of the scientific community due to their wide potential and have also been investigated to deliver chemotherapeutic agents. The present research may prove a milestone in the development of more stable, non-toxic simple peptide-based nanostructure for effective drug delivery system for cancer,” Prof V S Chauhan, director ICGEB and one of the authors of the study told HT.
The in-vivo studies for evaluating the side effects were done on mice. There were no observable side effects such as body weight loss, no appetite loss, diarrhea or skin irritation
However, most peptide nanostructures are based on relatively longer peptides and lower stability of the peptide nanostructures restricted most of the research on them to in-vitro experiments.
“The study was done for breast cancer. Now, we want to do it with other drugs and other forms of cancer,” he said.
