Targeted delivery of drugs to organs and tissues can significantly increase the effectiveness of their impact and reduce the frequency of adverse reactions. Scientists of Tomsk State University, within the framework of a new project supported by the Priority 2030 federal program, are developing systems for targeted delivery of biologically active substances, in particular, a new approach to encapsulation. The chitosan biopolymer is used as the basis for active molecule delivery systems.
– Insufficient targeting of bioactive substances is one of the main problems of their use. Most existing biologically active substances have a general effect on the body, without targeted delivery to specific organs and tissues in need of therapy. Because of this, the possibilities of using them for the prevention and treatment of diseases are very limited, – explains Irina Kurzina, project manager, head of the Department of Natural Compounds, Pharmaceutical and Medical Chemistry at the TSU Faculty of Chemistry.
To solve this problem, scientists from the Faculty of Chemistry of TSU are developing targeted drug delivery systems. One of the most promising and multifunctional biopolymers – chitosan – was chosen as the basis for them. Its key advantage is biocompatibility and complete biodegradability, which minimizes the risks of side effects and inflammation.
A significant technological advantage is that the delivery systems developed under the project are synthesized in an aquatic environment. This avoids the use of toxic organic solvents, simplifies synthesis, and guarantees high reproducibility of results.
– Chitosan is highly reactive and can be easily modified. This opens up wide opportunities for the design of a wide variety of dosage forms, – says Olesya Laput, senior researcher at the Department of Natural Compounds, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry. – Nanoparticles, microspheres, micelles, liposomes, hydrogels and films are successfully created based on chitosan. They can be used in the treatment of various diseases.
According to TSU scientists, the most important property of chitosan is its versatility in relation to loaded biologically active substances. It is possible to introduce compounds of various nature: low molecular weight compounds, high molecular weight protein and peptide drugs (including enzymes and antibodies), as well as nucleic acids (DNA, mRNA) for gene therapy.
A series of syntheses and tests of delivery systems for protein molecules and low molecular weight compounds based on chitosan have already been carried out within the framework of the project. In the future, research will focus on the development of targeted delivery systems for the treatment of cancer.
It should be added that TSU scientists implemented many projects, which resulted in new technologies and products for domestic medicine. So, together with colleagues from SibSMU and the Research Institute of Oncology, within the framework of a large project on genetic research, a fundamentally new method of blocking malignant tumors has been developed. The new approach is based on the use of microRNAs – molecules that regulate gene activity. This project was carried out under the guidance of Yulia Kzhyshkovskaya, Professor of the Department of Natural Compounds, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, TSU Faculty of Chemistry, scientist at the University of Heidelberg (Germany) and SibSMU.
TSU scientists will present the results of a new project to develop a targeted delivery system for biologically active substances, supported by the Priority 2030 federal program, at the end of 2025.