Researchers at The College of Texas at El Paso are creating a brand new therapeutic strategy that makes use of nanoparticles for the therapy of pores and skin and lung fibrosis, circumstances that may end up in extreme injury to the physique’s tissues.
Md Nurunnabi, Ph.D., is an affiliate professor in UTEP’s College of Pharmacy and the lead researcher on two research revealed this June within the medical Journal of Managed Launch; one examine focuses on pores and skin fibrosis and the opposite on lung fibrosis.
“We’re nearer than ever to creating a protected, efficient and dependable strategy to treating fibrosis,” Nurunnabi stated.
Fibrosis is a situation during which the tissues in an organ -; such because the pores and skin, lungs, liver or kidneys -; grow to be thicker and stiffer, based on Nurunnabi. This will have a number of damaging results, such because the lungs not having the ability to maintain sufficient oxygen or blood vessels turning into narrower, resulting in hypertension.
“I studied fibrosis throughout my postdoctoral coaching however turned all for specializing in it in my lab in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Nurunnabi stated. “I noticed that many individuals have been passing away not due to COVID itself, however due to the irritation and fibrosis attributable to the viral an infection within the lungs. Our lab focuses on creating nanotechnology that may goal particular cells.”
Fibrosis can happen as a aspect impact of chemotherapy or the results of a viral an infection or autoimmune illness, a situation during which the physique’s immune system assaults its personal cells. For instance, with an autoimmune situation, the physique kills cells referred to as fibroblasts that assist type connective tissue. The physique then produces extra collagen than it wants, which results in fibrosis.
Nurunnabi’s crew centered on designing a nanoparticle that might goal the cells which might be liable for fibrosis growth and development with out disturbing the “good” cells vital for the physique’s wholesome functioning. Relatively than killing the “dangerous” cells, the crew was profitable in modifying them in order that they not produced extra collagen, in impact rehabilitating the cells. The research have been performed within the take a look at tube and in mice.
“Dr. Nurunnabi’s analysis into pores and skin and lung fibrosis sheds gentle on the devastating influence of those circumstances, whether or not acute or power,” stated José Rivera, Pharm.D, founding dean of the College of Pharmacy. “His findings provide hope for improved therapies that might considerably improve life expectancy and improve the standard of life for affected people.”
Nurunnabi’s lab is funded by way of a collaborative program between UTEP, the Nationwide Institutes of Well being and Baylor School of Medication, in addition to a pilot grant from the Nationwide Scleroderma Basis to conduct analysis associated to therapy of fibrosis.
