Role of gene and drug nano and micro carrier systems

LUCÍA SPERONI, C. FACUNDO TEMPRANA, NADIA S. CHIARAMONI, JULIETA GASPARRI, A. LIS FEMIA, M. SILVIA AMOR, M. CRISTINA TAIRA AND SILVIA DEL V. ALONSO

Emerging Technologies and their Applications in Society and Arts

Dirección Nacional de Relaciones Internacionales, Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva

Año: 2009; p. 199 - 214

Nanotechnology has already started to impact many industries and scientific fields including biotechnology, pharmaceutics, food technology and semiconductors. One of the most promising impacts of nanotechnology is in the area of nanotherapy. Employing nanosystems such as nanoliposomes, niosomes, nanotubes, dendrimers, emulsions and quantum dots, nanotherapy leads toward the concept of personalized medicine and the potential for early diagnoses coupled with efficient targeted therapy. The development of smart targeted nanocarriers that can deliver compounds at a controlled rate directly to the designated cells and tissues will provide better efficacy and reduced side effects. Nanocarriers improve the solubility of compounds and allow the delivery of not only small-molecule drugs but also the delivery of nucleic acids and proteins, hence improving their biodistribution and bioavailability. Our research group is now focused on complex DNA/lipidic systems interactions and their biodistribution in murine model, and also transfection optimization of a murine melanome model in vitro (B16 Cell line); lipopolymer systems with inherence on immune response in Balb/c and in vitro DNA interaction. Other applications of this delivery system, applied to ophthalmology, are to increase drug bioavailability, reduced drop loss and increase drug concentration on site with controlled release, using for example various drugs against glaucoma, infectious disease and dry eye. All of these applications focus on nanoscale and microscale delivery and targeting mechanisms to reduce drug degradation, toxicity and side effects. Keywords: Nano and Micro technology, gene therapy vectors, liposomes, lipopolymers, biodistribution, lipid/DNA complex.