Amine-endcap PLGA from PolySciTech used in the development of nanoparticle based asthma treatment

Asthma is a very common disease affecting over 300 million people across the globe and is typified by severe inflammation of respiratory passages. Recently, overexpression of a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) has been identified as one of the pathways which leads to this inflammation in asthma patients. A peptide which acts to inhibit CaMKII has been identified however delivering high doses of this peptide specifically to the lung-tissue requires a unique delivery system. Recently, Researchers working jointly at University of Iowa, Johns Hopkins University, and Mahidol University (Thailand) utilized amine-end capped PLGA from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) (PolyVivo Cat# AI063) along with chitosan to develop inhalable cationic nanoparticle to deliver this peptide to the lung-tissue. They found this particle to be effective at cell penetration and to provide for asthma treatment with minimal side-effects in a mouse model. This research holds promise for improved asthma therapy. Read more: Morris, Angie S., Sara C. Sebag, John D. Paschke, Amaraporn Wongrakpanich, Kareem Ebeid, Mark E. Anderson, Isabella M. Grumbach, and Aliasger K. Salem. "Cationic CaMKII Inhibiting Nanoparticles Prevent Allergic Asthma." Molecular Pharmaceutics (2017). http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.7b00114

“Abstract: Asthma is a common lung disease affecting over 300 million people worldwide and is associated with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), eosinophilic airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction and mucus production. Targeting of novel therapeutic agents to the lungs of patients with asthma may improve efficacy of treatments and minimize side effects. We previously demonstrated that Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) is expressed and activated in the bronchial epithelium of asthmatic patients. CaMKII inhibition in murine models of allergic asthma reduces key disease phenotypes, providing the rationale for targeted CaMKII inhibition as a potential therapeutic approach for asthma. Herein we developed a novel cationic nanoparticle (NP)-based system for delivery of the potent and specific CaMKII inhibitor peptide, CaMKIIN, to airways. CaMKIIN-loaded NPs abrogated the severity of allergic asthma in a murine model. These findings provide the basis for development of innovative, site-specific drug delivery therapies, particularly for treatment of pulmonary diseases such as asthma. Keywords: Polylactide-co-glycolide, PLGA, Nanoparticle, Chitosan, Asthma, CaMKIIN”