Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia are studying the use of applying a magnetic field to a nanoparticle which may prove useful in drug delivery systems. Pieces of DNA are bound to iron-containing nanoparticles and then a magnetic field is used to guide the nanoparticles to the target muscles cells. To learn more about the study, including a podcast of the interview with Dr. Robert Levy, lead researcher.
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A team of researchers from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are using a nanoparticle to serve two purposes: drug delivery and as an imaging particle. A quantum dot was used to delivery the anti-cancer drug Doxorubicin, which can absorb blue light and emit green and orange light. This allows the researchers to see where the nanoparticles are delivered in the tumor.
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Researchers at the California Institute of Technology are using small segments of RNA called small interfering RNA or siRNA attached to nanoparticles and tagged with a fluorescent label to examine the uptake to nanoparticles by a tumor. The goal of the study is to guide nanoparticles to enter the tumor cells rather than attach to the surface.
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Researchers at Johns Hopkins University are developing a nanoparticle that can be used to both diagnosis and treat human disease. The researchers have developed a magnetic microcapsule made of seaweed extract and iron and filled with insulin. The nanoparticles can then be used with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to allow visualization in the human body. The magnetic microcapsule can increase the sensitivity of the MRI. The microcapsule may also allow delivery of insulin to body and treat the disease.
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The Australian based company Apollo Life Science’s oral insulin product has passed the required studies to enter phase I clinical trials, in which the product will be given to human volunteers. The oral insulin treatment created by the company uses a nanoparticle to protect the insulin from the acids and enzymes in the stomach. This new technology from Apollo has overcome two hurdles; one is incorporating the insulin in a protective nanoparticle shell and the other is the ability to create consistently sized nanoparticles.
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