Translation of regenerative therapies is limited by safety concerns of off-target effects throughout the body. Approaches that could allow targeted delivery of therapies in specific organs would support a more effective and safer treatment. This work has developed new tools called MPN-nanoparticles which can package and deliver small molecules specifically to the heart. The impact of this could allow development of next-generation therapies that safely regenerate heart cells in heart failure.
reNEW research
Here we have developed a series of new tools to package small molecules and gene editing tools for targeted delivery into human cardiomyocytes. The presence of the dye indicates selective and successful delivery at an unexpected scale. This approach supports a novel strategy to safely deliver regenerative small molecules to patients as therapies for heart failure.
Image description
This image shows heart cells called cardiomyocytes in aqua and a dye packaged within a MNP-nanoparticle in yellow.
Credits
Hayley Pointer, Research Assistant, Porrello Lab, reNEW Melbourne.
