Targeting drug delivery nanoparticles to sites of inflammation

描述（由申请人提供）：这个二期STTR项目的目的是开发一种基于纳米颗粒的药物输送系统，用于治疗干性年龄相关性黄斑变性（AMD）。老年性黄斑变性是工业化国家55岁以上人群致盲的主要原因，在美国影响了大约1000万人，在全球影响了多达3000万人。这种疾病有两种形式，都会导致中央视力丧失。大约15%的人患有湿性或渗出性黄斑变性，这会导致迅速致残的失明。其余85%的患者患有干性黄斑变性，这是一种不太严重的形式，会导致视力逐渐丧失。目前，还没有批准的药物被批准用于治疗干性AMD。该项目旨在研究开发一种“智能”聚乳酸，乙醇酸（PLGA）纳米颗粒药物输送系统，该系统可以在静脉注射后到达炎症部位。归巢是通过类似于淋巴细胞识别炎症区域的机制实现的。一旦到达那里，颗粒将在一段持续的时间内释放一种补体抑制剂。越来越多的研究将过度的补体激活与包括AMD在内的几种衰老疾病联系起来。第一阶段开发的原型纳米颗粒能够在细胞培养中选择性地结合活化的内皮细胞。体内研究进一步表明，纳米颗粒能够结合眼部发炎的血管。体外研究表明，他们也能够释放补体抑制剂的周期超过60天。本申请与开发一种可用于治疗非渗出性老年性黄斑变性的药物产品密切相关。目前还没有批准的治疗这种疾病的方法，这使它成为一个重大的公共卫生问题。从长远来看，这项工作的目标是开发能够选择性靶向和治疗疾病作用部位的药物产品，特别是那些与炎症和退行性疾病相关的药物产品。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The purpose of this Phase II STTR project is to develop a nanoparticle-based drug delivery system for use in the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the leading cause of blindness for individuals over fifty-five years of age that live in the industrialized world, affecting approximately 10 million people in the US and as many as 30 million worldwide. There are two forms of the disease, both of which cause a loss of central vision. Approximately fifteen percent have wet, or exudative, AMD, which causes rapid, disabling blindness. The remaining eighty-five percent of patients have dry AMD, a less severe form that produces gradual vision loss. At present, there are no approved pharmacological agents approved for the treatment of dry AMD. This project seeks study to develop a "smart" poly-lactic, glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticle drug delivery system that can home to sites of inflammation after intravenous injection. Homing is achieved through a mechanism similar to one used by lymphocytes recognize regions of inflammation. Once there, the particles will release a complement inhibitor over a sustained period time. A growing body of research links excessive complement activation with several diseases of aging, including AMD. The prototype nanoparticle developed in Phase I is able to selectively bind activated endothelial cells in cell culture. In vivo studies further show that the nanoparticles are able to bind inflamed blood vessels in the eye. In vitro studies showed that they are also able to release a complement inhibitor for periods in excess of 60 days. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE This application is critically concerned with developing a drug product that can be used to treat nonexudative age-related macular degeneration. There are currently no approved treatments for this disorder, making it a major the issue of public health. In the longer term, the goal of this work is to develop drug products that can selectively target and treat sites of disease action, particularly those associated inflammation and degenerative disease.