According to Prof. Michael Pirer, Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the Ariel University Center, such a move may reduce or even completely prevent the side effects associated with chemotherapy treatments, which harm the patient's health
Researchers in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the Ariel University Center have developed a system for injecting drugs that directly target damaged and malignant target cells, without harming healthy cells, with the goal of significantly reducing the severity of side effects of chemotherapy treatments, for example: external effects, such as hair loss, vomiting and severe physical sensations, and internal effects, Like a decrease in the immune system as a result of bone marrow damage. The treatment with fewer side effects will allow for an optimal dosage of the drugs that may destroy more malignant cells, and increase the chances of success of the treatment.
This system is based on synthetic peptides (small proteins) that will be used as drug carriers, and their role will be to identify the cancer cells, to lead the drugs to them in a target-oriented route, while fully filtering the healthy cells surrounding the malignant cells, and without harming them. The system will also enable early identification and detection of the recurrence of cancer cells, and treatment at an earlier stage of the disease, than is currently possible.
The use of this drug injection system will enable a more efficient and targeted extraction of the properties of the existing chemotherapeutic drugs after the drug-carrying peptides have been incorporated into them, in the compound of the chemical substances of the drugs.
So far, the system has been tested under laboratory conditions in mice, and at the same time in a pre-clinical trial in humans in collaboration with a medical center in Israel with which the Ariel University Center operates.
Prof. Michael Pirer, Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the Ariel University Center, describes the current situation in the field of chemotherapy treatments for cancer patients: the side effects of the drugs cause doctors to use a lower dose than the dose expected to be optimally effective, in eradicating the malignant cells, for fear that the patient will not be able to cope with their strength and effect on the body.
Prof. Pirer points out that since the chemotherapy drugs also damage healthy cells, in addition to damaging the malignant cells and their ability to continue dividing and multiplying, they cause a loss of bone marrow that supplies the human body with new blood cells every day, in order to prevent this damage, the laboratory discovers and develops peptides (small proteins), synthetic, which may serve as carriers for drugs, identify the cancerous target cells, and direct the drugs only to them.
The matching of the synthetic peptides is done by using a technology called "peptide library" which enables the identification and characterization of peptides that identify only the cancer cells and not healthy cells. After that, the peptide can be synthesized with the drug and also make sure that it does not bind to other cells, such as healthy cells.
As an advanced step, the researchers check whether the substance is indeed active on the one hand, and is selective in choosing the target cells, on the other hand.
In early tests, of patients treated in hospitals in Israel, the researchers have already diagnosed specific peptides for certain types of blood cancer. The meaning is the verification of the technology and the justification of the approach to the development of new compounds.
The development will allow the pharmaceutical companies to integrate the peptides into the drug production process.
It should be noted that such a move may reduce or even completely prevent the side effects associated with chemotherapy treatments, which harm the patient's health: susceptibility to infections, due to damage to healthy bone marrow cells, anemia, damage to the kidneys, liver and intestine, damage to the hair follicles causing hair loss, and more .
Further continued use of the peptide will be monitored during the remission period of the disease, and early diagnosis of the regeneration of the cancer cells, ahead of time, if the disease is renewed.
This follow-up procedure will be made possible by connecting the peptide to a fluorescent substance - colored light - and checking for the presence of cancer cells in samples from the patient. If positive findings are found, it will be possible to start the treatment, at an earlier stage of the recurrent disease.
It will be possible to detect recurring cancer cells in the organ known to be damaged, but it will also be possible to detect such cells in other organs of the body.
The researchers of the university center predict that the results in humans will lead to the over-efficiency of existing or future drugs, a decrease in side effects experienced by the patient and better results in patients.
Worldwide, many resources are invested in improving cancer treatments. In the coming years, breakthroughs are expected as a result of these works that may have a positive effect on the chances of treating and even completely curing various types of cancer. Prof. Pirer points out that "we hope to be part of these groups through our developments".
9 תגובות
There is something that is not really clear to me... a cancer cell is a completely normal cell that something in its division/decomposition mechanism is not working properly - that is, in terms of its structure it will be quite similar to the cells of the body... why would the peptide connect only to the cancer cell?!
Important, very interesting research
In any case they will succeed!!!
sympathetic
Can be. I agree that it is interesting for the researchers to see where the cancer is and what the treatment is like. But it follows that the fluorescent substance is attached to the peptide from the beginning of the treatment for monitoring purposes.
I hope they bring a balm for this disgusting disease.
And note that another article has been attached today on the same topic of directing a drug to diseased cells.
Shabbat Shalom
Sabdarmish Yehuda
Yehuda,
There is no such thing as a fluorescent intermediate. The fluorescent material is simply used to trace the drug.
Since the drugs focus on the infected cells, it is possible to follow the development of the disease by monitoring the drug, which is of interest to the researchers.
Yehuda
Here's an idea that's better for you:
Send him the fish, along with the cabbage you cooked, and tell him that because it was Shabbat you couldn't call.
And apologize by explaining to him that it was all a misunderstanding of yours, because of the cat's differences that caused pressure in your head. ))
R. H. ghosts
I hope it's not jealousy talking from your throat!
If it wasn't Holy Saturday today, I would call Professor Pirer and ask for his response to my justified question.
Maybe I will on Sunday…. Wait, Sunday is the Tisha B'Av fast, so maybe on Monday.
And regarding the sauerkraut, I will not send because it has already been said that loose cabbage will not be returned!
But maybe I'll send them the fish from the dolphin article if Schlesinger's cat doesn't eat them in the meantime
We will go see new articles in science
Shabbat Shalom
Yehuda Sabdarmish
Yehuda Sabdarmish
You are amazing! How do you identify the right problem and find the right solution every time! How always the researchers themselves miss, and you hit the target! you are the best! Have you thought about claiming the Nobel Prize from the committee for yourself? Try sending them sauerkraut, maybe that will help them decide.
I will refer to the following sentence:-
"Another continued use of the peptide will be monitored during the remission period of the disease, and an early diagnosis of the regeneration of the cancer cells, ahead of time, if the disease is renewed. This tracking procedure will be made possible by connecting the peptide to a fluorescent substance" end quote.
What is the use of that? After all, the researchers in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the Ariel University Center have developed a system for injecting drugs that directly target damaged and malignant target cells, without harming healthy cells, so the aforementioned mechanism can be permanently in the patient's body even when he is healthy and act as a vaccine. If the disease returns, the mechanism will be able to attack it immediately without the need for an intermediate fluorescent stage.
Another thing, are scientists from Ariel also on their way to a Nobel Prize, or will they not give a Nobel Prize to a university in occupied territories? Just a thought.
Shabbat Shalom
Sabdarmish Yehuda.