• Particles released by red blood cells ar

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Tue Apr 19 22:30:42 2022
    Particles released by red blood cells are effective carriers for anti-
    cancer immunotherapy

    Date:
    April 19, 2022
    Source:
    National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
    Summary:
    A study has demonstrated that nano-sized vesicles released by red
    blood cells are a viable platform for delivering immunotherapeutic
    RNA molecules to suppress breast cancer growth and metastasis. The
    study successfully delivered RIG-I-activating RNAs using small,
    lipid membrane- bound particles released by red blood cells,
    called red blood cell extracellular vesicles (RBCEVs), to suppress
    cancer progression. The team had also discovered in earlier studies
    that these vesicles are ideal therapeutic carriers with a natural
    ability to deliver bioactive molecules to many cell types.



    FULL STORY ==========================================================================
    In the fight against cancer, the development of efficacious drugs is
    only half the battle; equally important is how drugs may be delivered efficiently and safely to the diseased sites in the body.The challenge
    of drug delivery is especially pertinent for RNA therapeutics which
    target an important immuno- modulatory receptor, RIG-I. When activated
    by certain types of RNAs, the receptor can initiate immune responses to
    kill cancer cells. As RNAs are unstable and fragile by nature, RNA-based
    drugs must be packaged in suitable carriers to prevent degradation,
    and promote efficient uptake by target cancer tissues.


    ==========================================================================
    A study led by researchers at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine,
    National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) -- in collaboration with
    the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technology University,
    Singapore (LKCMedicine, NTU Singapore) and A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) - - demonstrated that nano-sized vesicles released by red
    blood cells are a viable platform for delivering immunotherapeutic RNA molecules to suppress breast cancer growth and metastasis. Published in
    the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, the study successfully delivered RIG-I-activating RNAs using small, lipid membrane-bound particles released
    by red blood cells, called red blood cell extracellular vesicles (RBCEVs),
    to suppress cancer progression. The team had also discovered in earlier
    studies that these vesicles are ideal therapeutic carriers with a natural ability to deliver bioactive molecules to many cell types.

    Assistant Professor Minh Le from the Institute for Digital Medicine
    (WisDM) and Department of Pharmacology at NUS Medicine, who led the
    study, explained, "With the discovery of these vesicles' ability
    to deliver therapeutics effectively to targeted receptors, we hope
    that our research can lead to better treatment outcomes for cancer
    patients. The correct homing of the therapeutics to diseased cells is also critical in minimising off-target effects that can result in toxicity."
    For the study, two novel RNA molecules were developed at LKCMedicine,
    and packaged into RBCEVs to activate the RIG-I pathway, induce cell
    death in breast cancer cell cultures, and suppress tumour growth in
    laboratory models with breast cancer. The team also engineered RBCEVs to improve their specificity of homing towards metastatic cells that took
    hold in the lungs. Associate Professor Luo Dahai, Associate Professor
    of Infection and Immunity at LKCMedicine, said, "Asst Prof Le's RBCEV technology can overcome several hurdles related to therapeutic RNA
    delivery and unleash the anticancer potential of our immunomodulatory
    RNA (immRNA). I am thrilled to see the success of our collaboration."
    Dr Tam Wai Leong, Group Leader and Associate Director at GIS, one of the collaborators of the study, added, "The promising results highlight two
    key strengths of this innovative platform -- the capacity for efficient delivery of different therapeutic cargoes, as well as the possibility
    for genetic modifications to enhance targeting to more cancer types."
    To further examine the function of RBCEVs in carrying a broader range
    of therapeutics to more cancer cell types, the team plans to conduct
    further research in collaboration with the National University Cancer
    Institute and Cancer Science Institute of Singapore. Concurrently, RBCEV technologies are under intensive research at Carmine Therapeutics, an
    EVX Ventures company which aims to develop the next generation of gene
    therapy based on RBCEVs for treatments of rare diseases and cancer. "We
    hope to expand the therapeutic value of the RBCEV platform to more cancer
    types and increase the reach of such novel forms of therapy to benefit
    more cancer patients," said Asst Prof Minh Le, who is also one of the co-founders of the company.


    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by National_University_of_Singapore,_Yong_Loo_Lin_School_of Medicine. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Boya Peng, Trinh Mai Nguyen, Migara Kavishka Jayasinghe, Chang
    Gao, Thach
    Tuan Pham, Luyen Tien Vu, Eric Yew Meng Yeo, Gracemary Yap, Lingzhi
    Wang, Boon Cher Goh, Wai Leong Tam, Dahai Luo, Minh TN Le. Robust
    delivery of RIG‐I agonists using extracellular vesicles for
    anti‐cancer immunotherapy. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles,
    2022; 11 (4) DOI: 10.1002/jev2.12187 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220419103230.htm

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