Using biocompatible biodegradable amphiphilic polymers, researchers of Pharmaceutical Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences have made polymer nanoparticles called polymerosome in which docetaxel hydrophobic drug is encapsulated.
Talking to WebDa, Dr. Mona Ali Bolandi, assistant professor of Pharmaceutical Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences said: “according to the latest statistics released in the thirteenth annual conference of the Society of Pathology and the seventh annual conference of the Scientific Society of Cancer, 100 people Iran in die due to cancer”.
“As lifestyle is changing and the population of the elderly is growing, non-contingent diseases such as cancer are becoming widespread”; added the researcher, “this indicates necessity of policy-making to prevent from the disease and conducting research and encouraging investment in producing up-to-date anti-cancer drugs in our country”.
Pointing out that anti-cancer drugs might brought about major side effects for the patient, Dr. Ali Bolandi said: “this has had negative effects on patients’ lives who undergo chemotherapy and sometimes lead to their death. Therefore, it is necessary to design new drug delivery systems”.
Assistant professor of Pharmaceutical Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences said: “to this aim, using biocompatible biodegradable amphiphilic polymers, we have made polymer nanoparticles called polymerosome in which docetaxel hydrophobic drug is encapsulated”.
Referring to advantages of using nanoparticles in drug-delivery systems, she said: “more penetration of the drug in target cells, increased solubility of drugs, less fluctuation, decreased blood concertation and the possibility of targeting these particles towards problematic tissues and cells are among advantages of applying nanoparticles to produce drug-delivery systems”.
Dr. Ali Bolandi mentioned that nanoparticles used in pharmacy include carriers based on polymers soluble in water, biodegradable polymers, and liposomes; she said: “nowadays, polymer carriers are the focus of attention due to their considerable potentials such as long-time circulation in blood, targeted delivery of the drug, and controlled absorption and release of the drug”.
Stating that polymerosomes are a new generation of colloidal polymer carriers, this faculty member of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences said: “compared with liposomes, polymeric carriers have advantages such as high stability of the wall and its low permeability that is controlled and adjusted by the length of their blocks. Studies have confirmed efficiency of these systems in carrying and controlled release of the drugs”.
Dr. Ali Bolandi pointed stated: “to make polymerosomic systems purposeful and to deliver nanoparticles to problematic tissues or cells, special ligands should be placed on their surface so that they especially establish interoperability with receptors on the surface of ill tissues or cells”.
“In this study”, she continued, “folic acid was attached to the surface of the system; therefore, folic acid receptors that are high on the surface of breast, colon, pancreas, etc. cancer cells can be targeted”.
Assistant professor of Pharmaceutical Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences said: “the polymerosomic system containing docetaxel targeted with folic acid was used to cure metastatic breast cancer in mice and the results were promising”.
Researcher of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences noted that this formulation has been more effective in treating breast cancer in mice than Taxotere (the commercial brand of docetaxel) and managed to significantly enhance survival using this treatment model.
She said: “based on this research and by identifying strengths and weaknesses of intelligent drug-delivery systems, we can improve and apply them in the pharmaceutical and treatment system of the country. It is possible to estimate the time span to benefit from the results of this research only after its goals are realized”.