Nanomedicine Flashcards
what is the role of PEGylation in Doxil design, and how does it enhance the drug’s therapeutic efficacy?
it increases the circulation time of Doxil in the bloodstream by reducing opzonisation and clearance by the immune system
how does the EPR effect facilitate passive targeting of NPs in tumour tissues?
it allows NPs to accumulate in tumour tissues due to leaky vasculature and poor lymphatic drainage, promoting localised drug delivery
what does EPR stand for?
Enhanced Permeability and Retention
what are the key challenges in delivery NP-based therapies to solid tumours?
immune clearance by the liver and spleen, limited penetration into tumour tissue, and entrapment in the endolysosomal pathway
what is the difference between Doxil and traditional doxirubicin in terms of formulation and PK?
doxil is encapsulated in PEGylated liposomes, providing prolonged circulation and reduced off-target toxicity compared to free doxirubicin
explain the mechanism by which lipid NPs were used in mRNA COVID vaccines
LNPs protect mRNA from degradation and facilitate its delivery into cells, where it is translated into spike protein, triggering an immune response
why is shape an important parameter in NP recognition and uptake by cells?
shape effects cellular internalisation, receptor recognition, and interaction with the immune system, influencing their biological activity
what are the parameters for NPs
surface charge
ligand density
shape
size
rigidity
what is nano adjuvant development
control of biological nanoscale recognition via NP shape
what is Taxol formulated with?
castor oil
what is Abraxane?
NP formulation of paclitaxel complexed with serum albumin
what are the limitations of passive targeting in NP drug delivery and how can active targeting overcome these?
passive targeting relies solely on the EPR effect, while active targeting uses ligands to bind specific receptors on cancer cells, improving selectivity and efficacy
what role do Kupffer cells play in the liver in the clearance of NPs from the bloodstream?
they are macrophages that capture and clear foreign particles, including NPs, from the bloodstream reducing their therapeutic effectiveness
how does endolysosomal entrapment of NPs limit their therapeutic effect and are there strategies to overcome this?
NPs may become degraded in the lysosome, limiting drug release. To overcome this we should design NPs that can escape the endosome or target cytosolic delivery
what are the advantages of using graphene-based NPs for drug delivery, and what are the associated risks?
graphene-based NPs have high surface area and flexibility for drug loading but may pose risks such as toxicity or immune response due to their structure
how do MDSCs affect the distribution and effectiveness of nanomedicine in cancer treatment?
they suppress immune responses and can isolate NPs, reducing their accumulation at tumour site and limit their therapeutic effectiveness
what does MDSC stand for?
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell
what is the concept of ‘bionanosynapse’ in the context of NP-cell interaction?
the highly specific interactions between NPs and cellular receptors, dictating the biological response and cellular uptake
describe how microfluidic reactors contribute to the reproducibility and scalability of NP synthesis
microfluidic reactors offer precise control over reaction conditions, allowing for consistent NP size and shape, crucial for scaling up production
what is the significance of Fc gamma receptor binding in immune recognition of NPs?
Fc gamma receptors on immune cells recognise the Fc regions of antibodies on NPs, triggering immune clearance and reducing therapeutic efficacy
how can NP shape influence histone modifications and epigenetic changes in cells?
certain NP shape can induce mechanical stress on cells, leading to histone modification and epigenetic changes that may alter gene expression
what are the key challenges in developing nano adjuvants for cancer vaccines?
ensuring stability, targeting the appropriate immune cells, and avoiding off-target effects while enhancing immune response against tumours
how does the use of quantum dots in NP labelling enhance the detection of specific epitopes on cancer cells?
they provide bright and stable fluorescence, allowing for sensitive and precise detection of specific epitopes on cancer cells in imaging studies
what are the benefits of using albumin-bound NPs, such as Abraxane, in drug delivery compared to traditional formulas?
albumin-bound NPs improve drug solubility, enhance tumour accumulation through receptor-mediated transcytosis, and reduce toxicity
