Image Courtesy of Dr. P. Frederik and Mr. P. Bomans, University of Massstricht, The Netherlands and FEI Company.
|
Anyone keeping abreast of industry trends in the pharmaceutical market has noticed the enthusiasm that drug developers, investors,
and even traditional pharmaceutical companies have for biological drugs. Motivated as much by the technical and therapeutic
promise of biologicals as by a diminished number of small-drug candidates in their pipelines, mainstream pharmaceutical companies
are increasingly betting on large-molecule, biotechnically derived drugs.
In spite of their clinical promise and market potential, biological drugs present unique challenges for drug formulators and
manufacturers. For example, their size and structure make these drugs difficult to deliver to the patient without stimulating
an immune reaction. And the lability of these drugs makes it difficult to store them for any period of time.
To overcome these challenges, drug companies and researchers are devising many programs for delivering biologically based
drugs. Among the most interesting are nanoparticle-based drug-delivery systems.
In February 2008, Upperton (Nottingham, UK), a biotechnology company specializing in spray-drying and particle technologies,
and Novozymes (Bagsvaerd, Denmark) announced that they would commercialize their jointly-owned "rP-nano" technology. The technology
uses the natural binding properties of recombinant protein nano-particles to provide targeted drug delivery and enhance bioavailability.
The rP-nano technology produces nanoparticles from peptides and proteins, including monoclonal antibodies and enzymes, without
denaturing them. Andrew Yates, senior group leader of drug-product research and development with UCB (Brussels), says that polymeric nanoparticles
"have the potential to change our way of thinking" about drug-product delivery. Ping Yeh, director of protein-pharmaceutical
development at Biogen Idec (Cambridge, MA), explains that polymeric nanoparticles used for protein-drug delivery are often
made of polysaccharides or poly(lactide-co-glycolide) copolymers. These small, colloidal particles can be about 50–1000 nm
in size. When a manufacturer mixes a protein with a polymer, the polymer forms as a nanoparticle or sphere around the protein.
Providing protection
One benefit of polymeric nanoparticles is that they can maintain the stability of biological drugs, according to Anjan Nan,
research assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Manufacturers can encapsulate or conjugate
a protein drug in a nanoparticle to provide direct protection against unfavorable biological environments.
Coating nanoparticles' surface with biocompatible, water-soluble polymers such as polyethylene glycol makes them nonimmunogenic.
This tactic also reduces the chance that the reticuloendothelial system of the body (i.e., the liver, spleen, and macrophages)
will absorb the nanoparticles. The coating minimizes nonspecific adsorption effects such as protein binding. All of these
effects enhance the stability of the biotech product, Nan explains. Safeguarding a drug's stability enhances its bioavailability
and increases its effective half-life.
Speed, Resolution, Reproducibility, Flexibility, Durability: Unmatched in sample throughput & data precision, Shimadzu?s Prominence Ultrafast LC (UFLC) delivers data without compromise. Learn more.
Processing & Packaging Online Auction - October 27, 200p, 9-4ET.
DJS Enterprises - Since 1991 buying and selling high quality, reasonably priced New, Used and Reconditioned Process and Packaging Equipment for the Pharmaceutical, Vitamin, Food and Confectionery Industries.
Buy new and used pharmaceutical equipment, used process equipment and laboratory equipment at LabX. Auctions, classifieds, and post FREE wanted ads to locate equipment.
Join over 10,000 Process Industries professionals at the single best resource for new products, new ideas and new technologies, The New CHEM SHOW at New York's Javits Convention Center, November 17-19, 2009.