Nanoparticles target therapy to mother’s uterus, decreasing drug levels to growing baby
Houston - December 7, 2016
Media Contact:
Patricia Akinfenwa, 281.740.1402
Houston - December 7, 2016
Researchers at Houston Methodist Hospital have designed nanoparticles that improve drug delivery to the uterus of a pregnant mouse and reduce drug absorption by its unborn babies. In a study published in Scientific Reports, a journal of the Nature Publishing Group, Houston Methodist researchers joined with a team at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) to demonstrate the increased safety, specificity and efficacy of nanoparticle drug delivery.
“Our nanoparticle directly targets receptors on the uterus and allows for local drug release,” said Biana Godin, MScPharm, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of Nanomedicine at the Houston Methodist Research Institute. “This decreases chances of the drug crossing the placenta and protects the developing baby.”
The drug is surrounded by a nanoparticle capsule, and the capsule is coated with a chemical that targets release in a specific tissue, in this case, the outer uterine wall.
The collaborative team tested a medicine used to reduce preterm labor in expectant moms. Preterm labor can lead to prematurity, which affects nearly 10 percent of U.S. births and results in a greater risk for health and developmental problems in newborns. Drugs used to block uterine contractions are frequently inefficient and cross the placenta, causing fetal side effects. Nanoparticle delivery of one these drugs effectively increased uterine drug concentration and decreased fetal levels.
In this phase of research, the team will examine nanoparticle drug delivery in expectant animal models that closely resemble human physiology during pregnancy.
The research was supported in part by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health (R21HD08947).
To speak with Biana Godin, Ph.D. contact Patricia Akinfenwa, Ph.D., Houston Methodist, at 281.740.1402 or pakinfenwa@houstonmethodist.org. For more information about Houston Methodist, visit houstonmethodist.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
For more information: Uterus-targeted liposomes for preterm labor management: studies in pregnant mice. Scientific Reports DOI: 10.1038/srep34710. (October 11, 2016) J. Refuerzo, F. Leonard, N. Bulayeva, D. Gorenstein, G. Chiossi, A. Ontiveros, M. Longo and B. Godin.
“Our nanoparticle directly targets receptors on the uterus and allows for local drug release,” said Biana Godin, MScPharm, Ph.D., assistant professor in the department of Nanomedicine at the Houston Methodist Research Institute. “This decreases chances of the drug crossing the placenta and protects the developing baby.”
The drug is surrounded by a nanoparticle capsule, and the capsule is coated with a chemical that targets release in a specific tissue, in this case, the outer uterine wall.
The collaborative team tested a medicine used to reduce preterm labor in expectant moms. Preterm labor can lead to prematurity, which affects nearly 10 percent of U.S. births and results in a greater risk for health and developmental problems in newborns. Drugs used to block uterine contractions are frequently inefficient and cross the placenta, causing fetal side effects. Nanoparticle delivery of one these drugs effectively increased uterine drug concentration and decreased fetal levels.
In this phase of research, the team will examine nanoparticle drug delivery in expectant animal models that closely resemble human physiology during pregnancy.
###
Co-authors of the study included Jerry S. Refuerzo, M.D. (UTHealth), Fransisca Leonard, Ph.D. (Houston Methodist Research Institute), Nataliya Bulayeva, Ph.D. and David Gorenstein, Ph.D. (UTHealth), Giuseppe Chiossi, M.D. (University of Texas Medical Branch), and Alejandra Ontiveros and Monica Longo, M.D., Ph.D. (UTHealth).The research was supported in part by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health (R21HD08947).
To speak with Biana Godin, Ph.D. contact Patricia Akinfenwa, Ph.D., Houston Methodist, at 281.740.1402 or pakinfenwa@houstonmethodist.org. For more information about Houston Methodist, visit houstonmethodist.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
For more information: Uterus-targeted liposomes for preterm labor management: studies in pregnant mice. Scientific Reports DOI: 10.1038/srep34710. (October 11, 2016) J. Refuerzo, F. Leonard, N. Bulayeva, D. Gorenstein, G. Chiossi, A. Ontiveros, M. Longo and B. Godin.