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University of Liverpool Explores Nanodelivery To Improve Drug Efficacy
Scientists at the University of Liverpool are undertaking a project to tailor nanodelivery methods to improve effectiveness of drugs and develop new approaches for future drug development. Leading pharmaceutical firms Astra Zeneca and Merck are among the partners in the collaboration.
Magnified image of HIV virus: CDC
A leader of the project, Dr Andrew Owen of UoL’s Department of Pharmacology, said: "We will explore the hypothesis that less medicine is needed in nano-form and hope to prove that creating nano-drugs could enhance their ability to kill the HIV virus while reducing their toxicity. We will look closely at how much of each drug gets into the bloodstream and into different cells and hope to confirm that the nano-medicines are not toxic to their target cells or to the body as a whole."
Scientists will work closely with industry experts to investigate the possibility of creating viable drugs in nanoparticle form – each particle being approximately 1/800th the width of a human hair. By examining how successfully they can be absorbed into the intestine, and in what form they pass into the bloodstream, they will also look to establish if nanotechnology can reduce the toxicity of drugs by using smaller doses without losing effect.
Nano-Driven Improvements of AIDS Treatments
There are more than 20 HIV medicines already on the market, which aim to prevent AIDS by ensuring that the disease cannot replicate uncontrollably in the body. It is important to maintain efficacy while avoiding excessively high or low doses that allow the development of resistance to the drugs. HIV drugs are a lifelong commitment and the doses currently needed have significant associated toxicity when administered over a lifetime. Complications include heart problems, osteoporosis and visible fat redistribution.
Professor Steve Rannard, from the University's Department of Chemistry, said: "Control of matter on this nano-scale is gathering global interest and several new nanomedicines are now commercially available. Our approach will use existing drugs but will focus on changing their size rather than their chemistry. We aim to control their activity and the ability to target the drug to areas where the virus is usually inaccessible.”
The three-year project will be undertaken in collaboration with industry partners Astra Zeneca; Merck, Sharpe and Dohm; Gillead; Abbott; and Iota NanoSolutions.
Funding (1.7 million) was awarded by Research Councils UK’s Nanotechnology Grand Challenges.
Scientists will work closely with industry experts to investigate the possibility of creating viable drugs in nanoparticle form – each particle being approximately 1/800th the width of a human hair. By examining how successfully they can be absorbed into the intestine, and in what form they pass into the bloodstream, they will also look to establish if nanotechnology can reduce the toxicity of drugs by using smaller doses without losing effect.
Nano-Driven Improvements of AIDS Treatments
There are more than 20 HIV medicines already on the market, which aim to prevent AIDS by ensuring that the disease cannot replicate uncontrollably in the body. It is important to maintain efficacy while avoiding excessively high or low doses that allow the development of resistance to the drugs. HIV drugs are a lifelong commitment and the doses currently needed have significant associated toxicity when administered over a lifetime. Complications include heart problems, osteoporosis and visible fat redistribution.
Professor Steve Rannard, from the University's Department of Chemistry, said: "Control of matter on this nano-scale is gathering global interest and several new nanomedicines are now commercially available. Our approach will use existing drugs but will focus on changing their size rather than their chemistry. We aim to control their activity and the ability to target the drug to areas where the virus is usually inaccessible.”
The three-year project will be undertaken in collaboration with industry partners Astra Zeneca; Merck, Sharpe and Dohm; Gillead; Abbott; and Iota NanoSolutions.
Funding (1.7 million) was awarded by Research Councils UK’s Nanotechnology Grand Challenges.