Nanoparticle Drug Delivery

Question 1

How do nanoparticles deposit into the lungs

Answer 1

Inhaled particles will deposit in different parts of lung depending on size and what part of lungs we want to target
Alveolar region is big target - need to be at nanoscale

Question 2

Medical applications of nanoparticles

Answer 2

Inhaled insulin for diabetics, no IV
Inhaled nanogene therapy for CF
Inhaled anti TB nano medicines:
Delivered straight to site of disease 
Detected and phagocytosed 
Drugs can be formulated for delivery in single dose

Question 3

Benefits of cancer nanomedicines

Answer 3

Tumour specific targeting, less SEs
Longer half life, greater efficacy
Combined therapy, shorter treatment

Question 4

Why is nanomedicine promising for cancer treatment?

Answer 4

Enhanced permeability and retention effect

Nano molecules accumulate in tumour tissue more than normal tissue

Question 5

How can we use gold nanoparticles to treat cancer

Answer 5

Gold nanoparticle attached to targeting antibody and cytotoxic drug on surface
Gold is good for imaging and photo thermal therapy where they are heated up using radiation to kill cancer cells
The nanoparticles easily get into tumour tissue and stay there because of being able to fit through gaps in vasculature and poor lymphatic drainage of tumour
Can target nanoparticle for specific cancer receptor eg. HER2

Question 6

3 nano therapies that target NSCLC

Answer 6

Free cisplatin- 40% cell death of healthy cells
When attached to gold, death reduced

Permetrexed+cisplatin- less SEs as nanomedicine

Aurimune: TNFa coated gold nanoparticle. Selectively targets tumour
Less non organ specific effects
Patients tolerate higher doses
70-80% reduction in tumour volume