26 Jun Drug Nanocarrier Helps Overcome Medication Resistance
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Jose A. Garcia Salcedo, PhD.
Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas
Hospital Universitario San Cecilio
Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada
Granada Spain
Medical Research: What is the background for this study?
Response: Drug resistance is complicating the treatment of parasitic diseases including African trypanosomiasis, a fatal disease if left untreated. Development of a vaccine is unlikely due to parasite antigenic variation. Current chemotherapy relies primarily on four drugs. Three of these drugs access the cell’s interior through surface transporters and resistance mechanisms are largely associated with loss-of-function mutations in the involved surface drug transporters.
Medical Research: What are the main findings?
Response: We have developed a drug nanocarrier that consists of polymeric nanoparticles coated with a single domain antibody that targets the trypanosome surface. This new formulation reduces the minimal curative dose and, most importantly, circumvents drug resistance in a resistant cell line as a result of mutations in the surface transporter that mediate drug uptake. This study presents a proof-of-concept of a novel technology for reversing transporter-related drug resistance with applications to other infectious diseases.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: This study presents a proof-of-concept of a novel technology for reversing transporter-related drug resistance with applications to other diseases.
Citation:
DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004942
Jose A. Garcia Salcedo, PhD., Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, & Hospital Universitario San Cecilio (2015). Drug Nanocarrier Helps Overcome Medication Resistance
Last Updated on June 26, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD