Researchers have developed micromaterials made up only of proteins, capable of delivering over an extended period of time nanoparticles that attack specific cancer cells and destroy them. The micromaterials mimic natural secretory granules found in the endocrine system and were proven effective in mouse models of colorectal cancer.
The study is published in the journal Advanced Science.
A team coordinated by Professor Antonio Villaverde from the Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine of the Department of Genetics and Microbiology, UAB, and with the participation of the Sant Pau Research Institute and the CIBER-BBN, has developed self-contained micromaterials made up only of proteins that are capable of delivering over an extended period of time the polypeptide that composes them.
The technology used for the fabrication of these granules, patented by the researchers, is relatively simple and mimics the secretory granules of the human endocrine system. With regards to its chemical structure, it involves the coordination of ionic zinc with histidine-rich domain, an amino acid essential for living beings and therefore not toxic.
The new micromaterials developed by researchers are formed by chains of amino acids known as polypeptides, which are functional and bioavailable in the form of nanoparticles that can be released and targeted to specific types of cancer cells, for selective destruction.
The research team analyzed the molecular structure of these materials and the dynamics behind the secretion process, both in vitro and in vivo. In an animal model of CXCR4+ colorectal cancer, the system showed high performance upon subcutaneous administration, and how the released protein nanoparticles accumulated in tumor tissues.
“It is important to highlight that this accumulation is more efficient than when the protein is administered in blood. This fact offers an unexpected new way to ensure high local drug levels and better clinical efficacy, thus avoiding repeated intravenous administration regimens,” explains Professor Villaverde.
“In the clinical context, the use of these materials in the treatment of colorectal cancer should largely enhance drug efficiency and patient’s comfort, while at the same time minimizing undesired side effects.”
More information: Julieta M. Sánchez et al, Structural Stabilization of Clinically Oriented Oligomeric Proteins During their Transit through Synthetic Secretory Amyloids, Advanced Science (2024). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309427
Journal information: Advanced Science
News
Revealing the Invisible: Living Cells Can Be Seen With Infrared Light
IST’s new infrared microscopy technique allows for the detailed imaging of biomolecules in cells, supporting advancements in biotechnology and cellular therapies. In an effort to advance biotechnology innovations, scientists are working to develop faster, [...]
3,600+ Chemicals From Food Packaging Found in Human Bodies
A recent review has uncovered the widespread presence of food contact chemicals (FCC) in humans, identifying 3,601 chemicals used in food packaging and related products found in the human body. The study also points [...]
CREME: A New AI-Powered Virtual Lab to Help Cure Genetic Diseases
CREME, an AI-powered virtual lab, developed at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, offers a revolutionary approach to genetic research by simulating CRISPR interference (CRISPRi). This tool enables scientists to perform virtual genetic experiments and predict [...]
New Research Reveals That Cannabis Can Reverse Brain Aging
Researchers in Bonn examine how treatment with tetrahydrocannabinol affects the mTOR metabolic pathway. A low-dose, long-term administration of cannabis has been shown to not only reverse aging processes in the brain but also exhibit anti-aging effects. [...]
Cardiovascular risks of COVID-19 antivirals
Several antivirals, including remdesivir, Paxlovid, molnupiravir, and monoclonal antibodies like tixagevimab and cilgavimab, have been repurposed to treat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or received emergency use authorization (EUA). Antimalarial and antiparasitic drugs like [...]
Your eyes could reveal the first signs of many diseases
Melissa, a 30-year-old educator, came to the emergency department with a sudden onset of double vision. She had not been in an accident or suffered any trauma and had never experienced this symptom before. [...]
New insight into the causes of autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases are widespread and notoriously difficult to treat. In part, this is because why the immune system attacks its own tissues in patients with these conditions remains poorly understood. In a study recently [...]
COVID-19 reduces male fertility by affecting semen quality and hormone levels
In a recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analyzed data on the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on male reproductive hormones and semen variables to determine [...]
New Alzheimer’s Study Unlocks the Secrets of Aging Brain Cells
New method uses patient-derived neurons to effectively simulate late-onset Alzheimer’s and identify possible treatments. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have created a technique to explore the impact of aging on Alzheimer’s disease development. [...]
Lockdowns prematurely aged teenagers’ brains, study suggests
Teenage girls' brains may have prematurely aged by up to four years during the Covid pandemic, an American study suggests. Adolescent boys weren't immune either with their brain's also showing signs of undue wear [...]
Long COVID Still a Mystery: Routine Labs Show No Reliable Biomarkers
Routine lab tests are not reliable for diagnosing Long COVID, according to a new study. The research found that no clinical lab values could serve as biomarkers, highlighting the need to focus on symptoms [...]
Tiny magnetic robots could treat bleeds in the brain
Researchers have created nanoscale robots which could be used to manage bleeds in the brain caused by aneurysms. The development could enable precise, relatively low-risk treatment of brain aneurysms, which cause around 500,000 deaths globally [...]
Turning Mosquito Spit Into a Weapon Against the West Nile Virus and Other Deadly Diseases
Anita Saraf investigates mosquito saliva to understand how viruses like dengue and West Nile are transmitted, using mass spectrometry to identify potential targets for vaccines and treatments. You might guess it’d be tough to [...]
Ethics in Nanomedicine: Key Issues and Principles
Nanomedicine, a branch of nanotechnology, is revolutionizing healthcare by enabling the manipulation of materials at the nanoscale to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases. Unlike traditional treatments, nanoparticles (NPs) are highly precise in targeting diseased [...]
A call for robust H5N1 influenza preparedness and response
As the global threat of H5N1 influenza looms with outbreaks across species and continents including the U.S., three international vaccine and public health experts say it is time to fully resource and support a [...]
Mucosal COVID-19 boosters outperform mRNA shots in preventing upper airway infections
In a recent study published in Nature Immunology, a team of researchers from the United States used non-human primate models to compare the protection conferred by an intramuscular booster dose of the bivalent messenger ribonucleic acid [...]