Scientists have made a significant breakthrough by developing a nanoparticle delivery system capable of transporting genetic therapies directly to the lungs, potentially transforming treatment options for lung cancer and cystic fibrosis.
A revolutionary development in genetic therapy has emerged from Oregon State University (OSU), offering new hope for patients with lung cancer and cystic fibrosis.
Spearheaded by Gaurav Sahay from OSU’s College of Pharmacy, in collaboration with Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Helsinki, researchers have devised a novel nanoparticle-based drug delivery system that can safely and effectively transport genetic therapies directly to lung cells.
Significant New Findings Published
The breakthrough findings are detailed in two papers published in Nature Communications and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Through comprehensive experimentation involving over 150 different materials, scientists have identified a new class of nanoparticles capable of carrying messenger RNA (mRNA) and gene-editing tools to the lungs.
Remarkably, this innovation has shown promise in slowing lung cancer growth and enhancing lung function impaired by cystic fibrosis in mouse models.
“The streamlined synthesis method makes it easier to design future therapies for a wide range of diseases,” Sahay said in a news release.
A Broad Library of Lung-Targeting Lipids
One of the study’s crucial advancements includes the development of a chemical strategy to synthesize a diverse library of lung-targeting lipids. These lipids form the core of the nanoparticle carriers and can be customized to target various organs.
“These results demonstrate the power of targeted delivery for genetic medicines. We were able to both activate the immune system to fight cancer and restore function in a genetic lung disease, without harmful side effects,” added Sahay.
Collaboration and Future Directions
The Nature Communications paper lists Oregon State’s K. Yu Vlasova, D.K. Sahel, Namratha Turuvekere Vittala Murthy, Milan Gautam and Antony Jozic as co-authors, working alongside scientists from OHSU and the University of Helsinki.
The Journal of the American Chemical Society publication includes contributions from OSU’s Murthy, Jonas Renner, Milan Gautam, Emily Bodi and Antony Jozic, with Sahay leading the research efforts.
“Our long-term goal is to create safer, more effective treatments by delivering the right genetic tools to the right place,” Sahay noted. “This is a major step in that direction.”
Source: Oregon State University