Caterina Guiot
University of Torino, Italy
Title: Physical fields may promote nanocarriers effectiveness in targeted drug delivery
Biography
Biography: Caterina Guiot
Abstract
Nanotech resources have dramatically changed the drug delivery scenario. Due to the availability of nanocarriers which may be internalized by cells and release their cargo inside them, effectiveness is strongly enhanced and toxic side effects greatly reduced. The most critical aspect is the capability of reaching the target sites. Although the nanocarrier surface can be properly equipped with molecules with a very large affinity to the target cells, their systemic administration is ‘per se’ responsible of the fact that only a small nanocarrier percentage will reach the tissue of interest. This is a limitation for the drug bioavailability and release kinetics. Local or topical delivery methods would be therefore of great interest, but are scarcely feasible unless physical fields are used to enhance penetration and drug localization. Sonication with focused or unfocused ultrasound is a well known physical mean to improve the trespassing of membranes such as the skin, the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB), etc. Also static, low intensity magnetic fields may afford effective directionality in drug delivery. Particularly, oxygen and drug-filled nanobubbles for the delivery of levo-dopa and apomorphine in Parkinsonian patients can be addressed by ultrasonication of oral or nasal mucosae to reach as more proximally as possible the BBB. The ability of the nanobubble shells of chelating heavy metals in the cerebral liquids, which are overrepresented in Parkinsonian patients would be useful for both reducing their concentration and confer to the nanobubbles some magnetic properties which may help in directioning them outside from the BBB.