Prama Ghosh, Amity University Kolkata
The absence of effective drug delivery strategies has eventually restricted the very little medical progress in the field of Glioblastoma (GBM) – the most aggressive form of brain cancer in the past decades. The delicate anatomical structure of the brain results in low success rates. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) offers limited scope to intravenous injection which is the least invasive drug delivery route to the brain.
Natural proteins and viral particulates can cross the BBB. Using this knowledge, synthetic protein nanoparticle (SPNP) was engineered based on polymerized human serum albumin (HSA) equipped with cell-penetrating peptide iRGD.
SPNPs containing siRNA against Signal Transducer, Activation of Transcription 3 factor (STAT3i) result in in-vitro as well as in vivo downregulation of STAT3 which is a central hub associated with GBM progression. When STAT3i is combined with SNP using a standard of care ionized radiation – STAT3i SPNPs, tumour regression was observed. Long-term survival was also observed in 87.5% of GBM-bearing mice.
Upon further research and developments, the immune system could be activated to develop anti-GBM immunological memory which can potentially be used in eradicating secondary tumours resulting from the aggressive and infiltrative nature of GBM.
Also read: The effect of improper dumping of COVID-19 medicines
Reference: Gregory, J.V., Kadiyala, P., Doherty, R. et al. Systemic brain tumor delivery of synthetic protein nanoparticles for glioblastoma therapy. Nat Commun11, 5687 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19225-7
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