DEPARTMENTS/
LABORATORIES
LABORATORIES
Molecular Pharmaceutics
Faculty
Introduction
Development of lipid-based nanoparticles for efficient drug delivery to targeted tissues
Development of lipid-based nanoparticles for efficient drug delivery to targeted tissues
- Development of drug delivery systems for nucleic acid-based therapeutics
Nucleic acid (RNA)-based therapeutics involve the use of coding RNA, such as messenger RNA (mRNA), as well as non-coding RNA, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA). siRNAs are synthetic RNA duplexes of 21–23 base pairs in length that are designed to specifically target a particular mRNA for degradation. siRNA therapeutics can knock down the expression of target genes in the cells through a phenomenon known as RNA interference (RNAi). In contrast, messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics enable the immediate and efficient expression of therapeutic proteins in cells. Therefore, RNA-based therapeutics have become an increasingly important strategy for treating a variety of human diseases, such as cancer. However, both siRNA and mRNA cannot diffuse through cellular membranes owing to their hydrophilic nature and negative charges and are susceptible to enzymatic degradation by serum endonucleases; therefore, delivery systems of RNA-based therapeutics to the cells are needed. In our Laboratory, we are developing lipid-based nanoparticles for efficient delivery of siRNA and mRNA therapeutics to target tissues without side effects. - Development of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems for cancer therapy
Cancer chemotherapy is often accompanied by severe side effects because anticancer drugs are toxic not only to cancer cells but also to normal cells. Meanwhile, nanoparticles can be accumulated in tumor tissues by extravasation from leaky tumor vasculature. Thus, nanoparticles loaded with anticancer drugs facilitate reduction of side effects and increase effectiveness by delivering anticancer drugs to the tumor site. Hence, we are developing nanoparticulate drug delivery systems for anticancer drugs to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy. We are also designing co-delivery systems of multiple drugs that enhance the anticancer effect with a lower drug dosage and reduce side effects.