Nanoparticle scavengers for medical countermeasures against mycotoxin

描述(申请人提供)：霉菌毒素是自然产生的，是一种由真菌产生的有毒小分子。这些真菌毒素是大量亲脂剂的代表，它们作为潜在的战剂对军事战斗人员构成重大的急性和慢性危险。霉菌毒素的例子很多，有些比另一些更有效力。霉菌毒素分为肝毒素、肾毒素、神经毒素、免疫毒素和致癌物。由于食物、水或空气的污染，真菌毒素也可能对公众健康构成威胁。目前，无论是在急性还是慢性环境下，都没有真菌毒素暴露的治疗方法，缺乏有效的治疗方法可能是灾难性的。为了保护军事人员和平民的安全和健康，有必要开发一种治疗方法。 和预防性药物，可以有效地将浓度降至其毒性水平以下，最大限度地减少临床毒性的发生。露娜建议开发能够在体内有效隔离亲脂真菌毒素并促进其清除的纳米颗粒清除剂。这种基于纳米技术的方法提供了治疗被怀疑实际或潜在霉菌毒素中毒的人的潜力。第一阶段的工作将集中于展示在体内验证概念在减轻霉菌毒素引起的急性毒性方面的有效性，并展示露娜纳米颗粒在一种啮齿动物身上的安全使用。第二阶段的工作将集中在支持IND的临床前研究上。该项目的成功将为对抗真菌毒素提供一个有价值的医学对策工具，它还可能在临床上应用于其他亲脂性毒素或过量药物毒性。在应对涉及生物恐怖主义的紧急情况时，纳米解毒剂可能对国家战略储备非常重要。因此，这项拟议的技术对公众健康非常感兴趣，并加强了国家对潜在霉菌毒素攻击的准备。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Mycotoxin is naturally occurring and is a toxic small molecule produced by fungi. These fungal toxins are representative of a large number of lipophilic agents that pose significant acute and chronic dangers to military combatants as potential warfare agents. There are many examples of mycotoxins, some more acutely potent than others. Mycotoxin is classified as hepatotoxins, nephrotoxins, neurotoxins, immunotoxins, and carcinogens. Mycotoxin could also be a threat to the public health due to food, water or air contamination. Currently, there are no treatments for mycotoxin exposure in either the acute or chronic setting, and the lack of an effective therapeutic could be catastrophic. In order to protec the safety and health of military personnel and civilians, there is a need to develop a therapeutic and prophylactic drug, which can effectively reduce concentrations below its toxic level and minimize the incidence of clinical toxicity. Luna proposes to develop nanoparticle scavengers that can efficiently sequester the lipophilic mycotoxins in vivo and facilitate their clearance. Ths nanotechnology-based approach offers the potential to treat people under suspicion of actual or potential mycotoxin poisoning. Phase I efforts will focus on demonstrating proof-of-concept in vivo efficacy at attenuating mycotoxin-induced acute toxicities, and demonstrating the safe use of Luna's nanoparticles in one rodent species. Phase II efforts will focus on IND-enabling preclinical studies. Success of the program will provide a valuable medical countermeasure tool against mycotoxins, and it may also find clinical applications for other lipophilic toxins or for overdosed drug toxicities. The nanoparticle antidotes could be important for the Strategic National Stockpile in preparing for an emergency involving bioterrorism. Thus, this proposed technology is of great interest to the public health, and also enhances the nation's preparedness against potential mycotoxin attacks.