MIT: Immunostimulatory Drug Delivery System to Tumors

2023: Product Announcement

On April 19, 2023, employees of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced the development of a new way to deliver immunostimulatory drugs to malignant formations. It is assumed that the method will help increase the effectiveness of combating certain types of tumors.

Cancer immunotherapy is an artificial stimulation of the immune system aimed at killing neoplasm cells. In this approach, antibodies from immune system proteins bind to molecules on the surface of cancer cell tumor antigens. Medicines that stimulate the body's immune system are a promising way to treat many cancers. However, when administered systemically, they can cause unacceptable side effects such as inflammation. And this makes them harmful to patients.

Antibodies of immune system proteins bind to molecules found on the surface of cancer cell tumor antigens

American experts from MIT have proposed a way to solve the problem. The method is based on the use of special nanoparticles, which resemble a bottle brush in shape. At the same time, the inactive drug substance is concentrated in the area of ​ ​ the "brush" skeleton. By changing the composition of the particles, researchers can adjust the release profile of the drug in a certain way. As a result, there is an effective effect on the malignant formation while minimizing side effects that are detrimental to the body.

The authors of the work tested six different nanoparticle formulations designed to release immunostimulatory drugs at different rates. Experiments in a mouse tumor model showed that the medium and slow release versions of the drug particles did not cause side effects, while possessing significant efficacy in reducing neoplasm growth rates. At the same time, rapid release particles provoked systemic inflammation.^[1]

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