Na**particles Penetrate Mucus Barrier to Bring Gene Therapy to Lung Parenchyma
 

Na**particles Penetrate Mucus Barrier to Bring Gene Therapy to Lung Parenchyma
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A collaboration between researchers at Johns Hopkins University and*Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil has*managed to develop na**particles capable of carrying DNA molecules through the previously impenetrable mucus barrier of the lungs. The tech**logy may have significant implication for patients with COPD, cystic fibrosis, and other conditions affecting the lungs by offering the ability for gene therapy to be delivered directly into pulmonary tissue through inhalation.

The na**particles are biodegradable and don’t present problems associated with DNA ferrying viruses. Previously developed na**particles suffered from a poor ability to pass through mucus due to their charge and also bunched in groups, further limiting their usefulness.

The na**particles are made of biodegradable polymers called* poly(-ami** esters) (PBAEs) and *in lab tests were able to pass through mucus taken from real patients. To test whether genes delivered this way would actually work inside a real body, the researchers loaded DNA strings coding for light producing proteins into*the na**particles and had animals inhale them into their lungs. The team then looked at the animal lungs and saw the light producing proteins create a glow that lasted for up to four months after a single administration, demonstrating the effectiveness of the tech**logy.

Study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Highly compacted biodegradable DNA na**particles capable of overcoming the mucus barrier for inhaled lung gene therapy…

Via:*Johns Hopkins…

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