Development of cardiomyocyte-specific intracellular drug-delivery system for therapy of cardiac diseases

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08235
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General pharmacology
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: HONDA Takeshi 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 講師 (30457311)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 乾 誠 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 教授 (70223237) ; 酒井 大樹 山口大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 助教 (40464367)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 核酸アプタマー / 心筋細胞 / 細胞内導入 / 薬物送達

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Several intracellular proteins of cardiomyocytes have been found as attractive drug targets for cardiac diseases. Drugs targeting to such proteins require penetration into cardiomyocytes to exert their efficacy. In order to develop the heart-specific intracellular drug delivery system, we prepared the nucleic acid-based aptamer possessing an ability to penetrate into the cardiomyocyte specifically. Then, to investigate the intracellular drug-delivery potential of the obtained aptamer, we conjugated the aptamers to a drug targeting an intracellular protein regulating the contraction of cardiomyocyte. The drug-conjugated aptamers improved the contraction activity, indicating the utility of the novel heart-targeted intracellular drug delivery method.

Free Research Field

薬理学