Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg Federal Research Center (SPb FRC RAS) and St. Researchers from St. Petersburg State University have developed a method for targeted delivery of drugs used in the treatment of skin diseases using quantum dots. Drug phosphonates are added to them and the compound is then irradiated with a laser to activate the therapeutic agent. This issue was reported to socialbites.ca by the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. It was described at the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center.
Targeted drug delivery uses biotechnological products such as nano-sized capsules and particles to deliver drugs to a specific area of the body. At the same time, due to the relatively high accuracy, targeted distribution makes it possible to quantitatively reduce the dose of drugs and, therefore, the overall burden on the body.
“The compound we used is a phosphonate. It can change biological activity using a laser. In this study, we decided to investigate whether it is possible to deliver similar substances used in the treatment of skin diseases in a targeted manner. We used quantum dots as a delivery platform. We can alleviate the main symptoms of the disease and quickly stop its therapeutic effect. We can do this with analogues.” , for example, it is impossible to do with ointment. In this case, it is difficult to control the amount of the active substance applied to the skin and the duration of its effect on the skin,” Anastasia Egorova, senior researcher at the St. Petersburg Federal Natural Ecological and Chemical Research Laboratory, Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told socialbites.ca. explained.
Quantum dots are nano-sized particles made of special semiconductor materials. Quantum dots are easy to control because their properties directly depend on their size; This means that you can change its properties by changing its dimensions using a laser. Additionally, the use of quantum dots helps control the distribution of phosphonates in the body after injection due to their ability to glow.
Scientists decided to add therapeutic phosphonates to these points, which would be released in the desired area under the influence of the laser. The resulting drug was successfully applied to a local area of the skin of a natural model object; its role was played by an ordinary chicken breast. The activity of the drug was then “turned on” by laser radiation.
“Quantum dots successfully played the role of transport mediators; they have low toxicity towards the model object. The biological activity of the medicinal substance we used in our study is to block enzymes that affect the development of skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, etc.” Egorova concluded her words.
Formerly at the Petrovsky Artist Research Center in the name Five diseases that can be treated with medicine obtained from patients’ oils.