September 21, 2012

UGA researchers boost efficacy of drugs by using nanoparticles to target ‘powerhouse of cells’




POSITIVE RESULTS SHOWN FOR CANCER, ALZHEIMER’S AND OBESITY DRUGS

Nanoparticles have shown great promise in the targeted delivery of drugs to cells, but researchers at the University of Georgia have refined the drug delivery process further by using nanoparticles to deliver drugs to a specific organelle within cells.

By targeting mitochondria, often called "the powerhouse of cells," the researchers increased the effectiveness of mitochondria-acting therapeutics used to treat cancer, Alzheimer's disease and obesity in studies conducted with cultured cells.