Projects

The aim of the project is to develop a new class of inhalable stimuli-sensitive drug carriers that enhance the efficacy of drug therapy through regulated and localized drug delivery to the selected areas of lungs. This project is based on innovative technology developed by our team that enables the incorporation of drugs into thermo-sensitive fatty-acid particles and control the drug release by the increased temperature induced by an external trigger. Lipid based drug delivery systems can be directed into selected regions of lugs by associating them with magnetic nanoparticles. Such systems can be accumulated in diseased tissues using external magnetic field. Therefore, the idea of combination lipid-based drug carriers with magnetic nano-particles seems to be a viable pharmacological strategy. Such carriers will be inhaled into lungs and their distribution will be controlled by external magnetic field so the concentration will be the highest at the diseased tissues. Next the energy delivered to magnetic particles by the focused electromagnetic field will induce localized temperature rise releasing active ingredient form fatty carriers. Unused particles will be removed from lungs via natural physiological processes therefore any significant side-effects are not expected. The main objective of the proposal is the development of drug carriers delivered into lungs by inhalation. The carrier design will combine its sensitivity to temperature, magnetic field and improved bioavailability. Therapy against lung cancer based on such drug carrier where the active ingredient is a well establish compound, i.e. paclitaxel, is expected to improve performance of the drug whereas its common side effects are expected to be mitigated when compared to chemotherapy delivered via intravenous injection.