Development of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Nucleic Acid Delivery System Toward the NAFLD/NASH Treatment

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K18064
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 90120:Biomaterials-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Nakagawa Yasuhiro 東京工業大学, 物質理工学院, 助教 (90831264)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 水酸アパタイト / DDS / 高分子 / NASH

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)/Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) are underlying diseases inducing cirrhosis of the liver, with an increase in patient numbers reported in developed countries. We hypothesize that it's possible to create a nucleic acid drug delivery carrier that combines the liver parenchymal cell specificity of a galactose polymer with the nucleic acid carrying and endosomal escape abilities of hollow hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles. Specifically, we aim to deliver nucleic acid medicine to liver parenchymal cells by modifying hollow HAp nanoparticles, which are about 200nm in size, with a galactose polymer that is specifically adsorbed and ingested by liver cells.

Free Research Field

生体材料

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、優れた核酸担持容量・核酸保護機能・エンドソーム脱出機能を持った中空ナノHAp、生体適合・肝細胞送達ブロックとHAp吸着ブロックからなるジブロック共重合体をそれぞれ設計した。これらの複合体に、NASHの治療に向けたIL-11 siRNAを搭載することで、効果的なNASH治療法の開発を目指す。本研究の独自性はナノスケールで形態が制御されたHAp中空ナノ粒子の設計と、高分子材料を用いたHAp表面の機能化技術である。