Nano-Cargo Delivery Method Carries Therapeutic Genes to Tumor Cells

A nano-sized particle designed by a research team from Washington State University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is made of sheets of peptoids, which are similar to natural peptides that make up proteins. These peptoids are beneficial for drug delivery because they are fairly easy to syn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American laboratory (Fairfield) 2019-03, Vol.51 (2), p.8
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological materials
Cells
Drug delivery systems
Fluorescent indicators
Fluorine
Genes
Nanoparticles
Peptides
Proteins
Studies
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Summary:A nano-sized particle designed by a research team from Washington State University and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is made of sheets of peptoids, which are similar to natural peptides that make up proteins. These peptoids are beneficial for drug delivery because they are fairly easy to synthesize and, being similar to natural biological materials, they perform well in biological systems. The researchers added fluorescent probes in their peptoid nanoflowers so that they could trace them as they made their way through cells. They also added fluorine, which helped the nanoflowers more easily escape cellular traps that often impede drug delivery. The flower-like particles loaded with therapeutic genes were able to make their way smoothly out of the predicted cellular trap, enter the heart of the cell, and release their drug there.
ISSN:0044-7749