Soon, a ‘nano drug’ jab that hits brain tumour’s bullseye

WASHINGTON - The scientists have developed a unique technology, which can inject anti-tumor drugs directly into brain tumor cells, unlike other drugs of its kind.

The research team at Cedars-Sinai’s Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute has created a ‘nanobioconjugate’ drug that may be given by intravenous injection and carried in the blood to target the brain tumor.

It is engineered to specifically permeate the tumor cell wall, entering endosomes, mobile compartments within cells.

Studies in lab mice showed this system allows large amounts of antitumor drug to accumulate in tumors, significantly slowing the growth of new vessels and the tumors themselves.

“This nanobioconjugate is different from earlier nanomedicine drugs because it delivers and releases antitumor drugs within tumor cells, not just at the site of a tumor,” said research scientist Julia Y. Ljubimova, senior author of the article.

“Based on our studies, this nanoconjugate appears to be a safe and efficient delivery platform that also may be appropriate in the treatment of degenerative brain conditions and a wide array of other disorders,” she added.

Researchers anticipate that human clinical trials of the drug will begin in the near future. (ANI)