Nanogels are nano sized particles made up of very absorbent, gelatinous polymers (chemical compounds consisting of repeating structural units) called hydrogels. Nanogels are very small and has pores that can filled with molecules.These properties make nanogels ideal for medical applications such as a drug delivery or drug containment system. These nanogels can be engineered to break open or rupture to certain environmental or chemical conditions. Controlling where, when, and how much of a drug is to be released results in a more effective and targeted drug delivery.
Recently, scientists are developing nanogels as a delivery system to treat patients suffering from Lupus, an autoimmune disorder that may affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs.
Nanogel Based Delivery System For Lupus Patients
In the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Tarek Fahmy and colleagues at Yale University report the development of a nanogel-based delivery system that targets an immunosuppressive drug (mycophenolic acid) directly to tissues associated with immune cells.
Video: Hydrogels for Drug Delivery
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. Current treatments are focused on suppression of the immune system, but these therapies can leave patients vulnerable to infection. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Tarek Fahmy and colleagues at Yale University report the development of a nanogel-based delivery system that targets an immunosuppressive drug (mycophenolic acid) directly to tissues associated with immune cells. A nanogel is composed of a polymer containing pores that can be loaded with drug compounds. Fahmy and colleagues tested the mycophenolic acid-loaded nanogel in a mouse model of lupus. Mice treated with the nanogel lived longer than untreated mice or mice treated with mycophenolic acid alone. Additionally, the onset of kidney damage, a common complication of lupus, was delayed in nanogel-treated mice. These studies suggest that nanogel-based therapies may be useful in the treatment of SLE.
RELATED LINKS
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Yale University
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