Scientists at The University of Alabama (UA) have developed a bio-engineered molecule that uses a natural citrus compound to both target and treat inflammation.
Naringenin, a flavonoid found in citrus fruit, has long been recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the human body does a poor job of absorbing the compound in the form of food or currently available supplements. Normally, naringenin starts to break down in the stomach’s acidic environment. The small amount left intact has trouble crossing the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. The UA team has successfully unlocked naringenin’s inflammation-fighting properties.
The study, published in Science Advances, uses a patented method of encasing medicine in a biodegradable polymer shell developed by UA’s Drug Research and Engineering for Advanced Medicine Laboratory. The outside of this shell is decorated with additional molecules of naringenin, functioning as ligands, which bind to specialized receptors found on cell surfaces throughout the gut.
The UA team found that naringenin is an effective ligand binder to a certain kind of receptor. These receptors are the gateways that allow the medicine in rather than locking it out.
“This is the first time a single molecule has been used to both guide and heal,” said Meenakshi Arora, an associate professor at UA and the project’s lead researcher. “Our dual-function nanoparticles not only deliver the drug more efficiently but also restore immune balance and reduce tissue damage.”
Using a mouse model with acute kidney injury induced by cisplatin, a common chemotherapy drug, the researchers demonstrated that their dual-function nanoparticles:
- Reduced kidney damage and inflammation
- Lowered levels of key inflammatory markers
- Restored immune cell function and reversed immune exhaustion
- Achieved therapeutic effects at half the dose compared to conventional formulations
The study’s findings have implications for a wide range of inflammatory conditions, including autoimmune disorders, sepsis, arthritis and liver disease.
“Ultimately, this research provides a powerful proof-of-concept for a new class of oral drug delivery systems that could lead to more effective and lower-dose treatments for inflammatory diseases,” Arora said.
Source: University of Alabama
Share this Post