MOSCOW, May 24. Scientists from N.G. Chernyshevsky developed a platelet-based targeted drug delivery system. Cells are given magnetic properties and control their movement inside the body with the help of an external field. Thus, platelets carry the drug to the target organ, the scientists said. The results of the study are published in the journal Pharmaceutics.
Targeted drug delivery is a promising direction in modern medicine, experts at Saratov State University (SSU) believe. This is a point transport of drug molecules to the target using a controlled carrier, which can be other molecules or nanoparticles.
The researchers note that the immune defense system recognizes and destroys foreign objects that have entered the body. With intravenous administration of nanocomposite drug carriers, they can be recognized by immune cells as a target and «eliminated» before they reach the target organ. Therefore, the development of targeted delivery systems based on blood cells is an interesting and promising direction in the field of biomedicine, scientists believe.
“Currently, there are similar developments based on such blood elements as erythrocytes, exosomes, etc. We offer a fundamentally new approach based on the physiological characteristics of platelets — their ability to attach to circulating tumor cells,” said a senior researcher at the Laboratory of Biomedical Photoacoustics SGU Oksana Mayorova. «600» data-crop-height=»338″ data-source-sid=»not_rian_photo» class=»» />
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Circulating tumor cells, which are carried by the blood stream to a new location, cause platelets to accumulate around them, to protect against the immune system, Mayorova explained.
«This makes it possible to fix the objects we create on cancer cells and act on them with an active substance (heal) or nanoparticles (for example, overheat under the influence of an external electromagnetic field),» said Daniil Bratashov, head of the RSF project, associate professor.
Scientists give platelets magnetic properties by introducing nanoparticles into them. This allows you to control the movement of platelets through the bloodstream. Upon encountering circulating tumor cells, platelets attach to them.
Scientists believe that the synergy of the unique properties of platelets and the possibilities of modern science can open up great opportunities for the use of platelets as drug carriers in individual targeted therapy of diseases with fewer side effects.< br />
This work is only the beginning of a large study, the further task of the scientific team is to test this technology in the laboratory, experts said.
The project was supported by the RSF grant No. 18 -19-00354, which was funded from 2018 to 2022.
SSU is a member of the Priority-2030 state support program for Russian universities.