mPEG-PCL from PolySciTech used in development of methotrexate delivery system for treatment of ectopic pregnancy

 

Ectopic pregnancy is a potentially fatal condition in which an embryo develops outside the uterus. Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon State University used mPEG-PCL (cat# AK001) from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to deliver methotrexate as treatment for ectopic pregnancy. This research holds promise to provide for treatment of this potentially fatal situation. Read more: Mamnoon, Babak, Abraham S. Moses, Subisha Sundaram, Constanze J. Raitmayr, Terry Morgan, Maureen K. Baldwin, Leslie Myatt, Oleh Taratula, and Olena R. Taratula. "Glutathione‐Responsive Methotrexate Polymersomes for Potential Management of Ectopic Pregnancy." Small (2023): 2302969. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/smll.202302969

“The first-line treatment for ectopic pregnancy (EP), the chemotherapeutic methotrexate (MTX), has a failure rate of more than 10%, which can lead to severe complications or death. Inadequate accumulation of administered MTX at the ectopic implantation site significantly contributes to therapeutic failure. This study reports the first glutathione-responsive polymersomes for efficient delivery of MTX to the implantation site and its triggered release in placental cells. Fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging have confirmed that the developed polymersomes preferentially accumulate after systemic administration in the implantation site of pregnant mice at early gestational stages. The high concentrations of intracellular glutathione (GSH) reduce an incorporated disulfide bond within polymersomes upon internalization into placental cells, resulting in their disintegration and efficient drug release. Consequently, MTX delivered by polymersomes induces pregnancy demise in mice, as opposed to free MTX at the same dose regimen. To achieve the same therapeutic efficacy with free MTX, a sixfold increase in dosage is required. In addition, mice successfully conceive and birth healthy pups following a prior complete pregnancy demise induced by methotrexate polymersomes. Therefore, the developed MTX nanomedicine can potentially improve EP management and reduce associated mortality rates and related cost.”