BY LINU MOHAN
ASST PROF
ALSHIFA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
NANOPARTICLES TO TARGET INFLAMMATORY
CELLS
Any particle, less than 100 nm is known as nanoparticle. They
are of great scientific interest as they are effectively a bridge between bulk
materials and atomic or molecular structures. The inflammatory response
(inflammation) occurs when tissues are injured by bacteria, trauma, toxins,
heat, or any other cause.. In a
normal immune response, neutrophils
accumulate at an injury to act as the first
line of host cellular defense against bacterial infection.
But sometimes in chronic inflammation,
neutrophils pile up at the location of the injury, sticking to the walls of the
blood vessel and damaging the tissue. These pile ups are dangerous in lung
injuries, where it develops severe breathing problems.
Non steroidal anti inflammatory
agents and corticosteroids are the drugs nowadays using for management of this
condition, which carry some significant side effects.
The recent study on nanoparticle
resulted in the development of tiny pieces of protein that bind to a
type of immune cell (neutrophils) responsible for acute and chronic
inflammatory responses. They target the immune cells responsible for the
chronic infection, without affecting normally functioning immune cells. The
discovery reveals that nanoparticles can be used to deliver drugs in a highly
targeted, specific fashion to activated immune cells. Thus it can used to treat
a broad range of inflammatory diseases.
(Nanoparticles
from tiny pieces of protein that bind to a type of immune cell)
GEL FOR SEALING CORNEAL INCISION AFTER
CATARACT SURGERY
A cataract means clouding of the lens of the
eye. The condition is extremely common, and most cataracts are a result of the
aging process. Although many cataracts are not significant enough to require
treatment, surgical removal of cataracts is usually safe and effective,
resulting in improvement of vision.
During cataract surgery, an eye surgeon makes
a small incision in the cornea through which the patient’s natural lens is
removed and the artificial lens is inserted. In many cases the incision is
small and self-sealing after the artificial lens is in place. However, if fluid
leaks from the incision, the surgeon may need to close the wound.
Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
approved the first gel sealant for use in stopping fluid from leaking through
the incision in a patient’s cornea after cataract surgery with intraocular lens
placement in adult. Prior to today’s approval, stitches were the only option
for closing a leaking corneal incision after cataract surgery.
The Sealant kit comes as two liquid solutions
that the surgeon mixes together just prior to sealing the incision. Using a
foam-tipped applicator provided in the kit, the surgeon applies the mixture
directly to the incision. Within 20 seconds of applying the liquid to eye
tissue, a gel forms that adheres to the eye and seals the incision. The gel
gradually breaks down over the course of seven days and is cleared from the
body by the eye’s natural tears.
MEDICAL DEVICES FLOWING IN BLOOD
STREAM.
Implantable
devices powered wirelessly by electromagnetic radio waves are introduced. They
are very tiny devices that they can travel through our blood stream. They reach the target site in the human body and perform various diagnostic and therapeutic
procedures. It is useful in, performing microscopic imaging study of the target
tissue, removing a blood clot etc.
The discovery helps
significantly to prolong survival of the cancer patients after being implanted
at or near the site of tumor. By emitting targeted radiation at the
malignant cells the device helps to avoid the deleterious effects of
conventional radiation therapy for cancer.
The existing devices, like heart probes, chemical and pressure sensors,
cochlear implants, pacemakers, and drug pumps, would be stationary within the
body. But this device could travel through the bloodstream to deliver drugs,
perform analysis, and removing plaque from sclerotic arteries.
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