engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Massachusetts Medical School developed a nanoparticle that can gene editing in the lungs using CRISPR-Cas9. In this way, they seek to improve treatments for genetic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

published in scientific journal Nature Biotechnology, HE The study explains that the nanoparticles are respirable as in a nebulizer device. It’s no coincidence that scientists believe the particles could offer a simpler treatment for people with lung disease, but more research is still needed.

Because many diseases are genetic in origin, there are many studies trying to develop gene therapies for the treatment of these conditions. That’s why MIT scientists have created nanoparticles with messenger RNA (mRNA), a technology used to treat certain genetic diseases — the same technology used in some covid-19 vaccines, like the Pfizer version.

Nanoparticles and gene editing

The team’s main challenge was to send the particles to their final destination and avoid other organs, but they worked on different chemical structures and developed specific lipid nanoparticles that target the lungs—moreover, the nanoparticles don’t generate an immune response in the body. administration of multiple doses. To better understand the findings, the researchers ran tests on mouse lungs.

“This is the first demonstration of high-throughput RNA delivery to the lungs in mice. We hope [a nanopartícula] “It could be used to treat or repair a number of genetic diseases, including cystic fibrosis,” said Daniel Anderson, a professor in the MIT Department of Chemical Engineering and one of the study’s authors.

The researchers were able to perform gene editing using the CRISPR-Cas9 technique via intratracheal instillation, a method aimed at facilitating the delivery of drugs directly into the lungs. Anyway, they are already researching a way to stabilize the nanoparticles to make them usable in aerosols so the patient will inhale the particles through a nebulizer.

Source: Tec Mundo

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I'm Blaine Morgan, an experienced journalist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the tech industry. My expertise lies in writing about technology news and trends, covering everything from cutting-edge gadgets to emerging software developments. I've written for several leading publications including Gadget Onus where I am an author.

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