Collagen IV-targeted polymeric nanoparticles (shown in pink) are home to injured tissue, post-injection, in the blood. Credit: Farokhzad Lab (Phys.org) Inflammation is the body's natural defense mechanism against invading organisms and tissue injury. In acute inflammation, the pathogen or inflammatory mediators are cleared away and homeostasis is reached, however in chronic inflammatory states, this resolving response is impaired, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue damage. It is now widely believed that an impaired resolution of inflammation is a major contributing factor to the progression of a number of devastating diseases such as atherosclerosis, arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases, in addition to cancer. Since the level of inflammation in these diseases is very hightargeted therapeutic solutions are required to help keep inflammation contained. A new study from researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Columbia University Medical Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology presents the development of tiny nanomedicines in the sub 100 nm range (100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair strand) that are capable of encapsulating and releasing an inflammation-resolving peptide drug. The authors showed that these nanoparticles are potent pro-resolving nanomedicines, capable of selectively homing to sites of tissue … Continue reading →

Mansoor Amiji, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Northeastern University. Amiji's field of expertise includes Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, the application of nanotechnology for medical diagnosis, imagining, and therapy. (Phys.org) Every available cancer drug is susceptible to resistance, according to Mansoor Amiji, Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Tumors grow more quickly than blood vessels, so these unruly masses of cells receive very little oxygen and nutrients, which means they know just how to survive under harsh conditions. They make miniature pumps to actively dispel anything that doesn't serve them well (like drugs), and they evade all the checks and balances that normally maintain healthy cell populations. Each of these supercell powers is coded in the cancer's DNA. In theory, turning off the right genes would turn off the superpowers, according to Amiji. A method called RNA interference does exactly that. By inhibiting protein production of specific sections of DNA, so-called small interfering RNA, or siRNA, can shut down the activity of individual genes. But this is easier said than done. The siRNA molecules are incredibly finicky molecules, which Amiji likened to a picky houseguest who needs everything just so. "They're … Continue reading →

Public release date: 18-Mar-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Karin Eskenazi ket2116@columbia.edu 212-342-0508 Columbia University Medical Center NEW YORK, NY (March 18, 2013) A multicenter team of researchers, including scientists at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC), Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has developed biodegradable nanoparticles that are capable of delivering inflammation-resolving drugs to sites of tissue injury. The nanoparticles, which were successfully tested in mice, have potential for the treatment of a wide array of diseases characterized by excessive inflammation, such as atherosclerosis. The study was published today in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A key way in which the body protects itself against infection or injury is through acute inflammation. Ideally, this response first promotes the clearance of pathogens or damaged tissue; then, through a process called inflammation resolution, it clears cellular debris and inflammatory mediators and restores the tissue to its normal state. However, in many conditions, including heart disease, arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases, the inflammatory process never resolves, leading to tissue damage. "A variety of medications can be used to control inflammation. Such treatments, however, usually have significant … Continue reading →

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --IMAGE Skincare unveiled its revolutionary oxygenating treatment last week at a series of parties hosted all over the world. Combining the latest technology in oxygen and stem cell therapies, the company at the forefront of innovation in skincare has created the ultimate anti-aging spa treatment: The O2 Lift. "The best part about this treatment is that recipients can expect to leave with an immediate result. Skin feels softer, smoother, and more radiant with just one treatment," said IMAGE Skincare Founder and CEO Janna Ronert. The O2 Lift is a five-step luxury spa treatment that exfoliates and oxygenates the skin while infusing plant-derived stem cells, peptides, and a high concentration of enzymatic botanicals to leave skin glowing and illuminated. "As a plastic surgeon, I have seen the benefits of oxygen therapy in cell regeneration. We wanted to bring that same technology to the cosmetic market, and we're one of the few companies in the world who has been able to harness the power of oxygen in a cosmetic application," said President and Medical Director of IMAGE Skincare, Dr. Marc Ronert. "There is no other product on the market like this one." The goal … Continue reading →

Inside Out By Cory Quirino Philippine Daily Inquirer The excitement over the tremendous healing and anti-aging power of stem cells continues to build up toward a frenzied acceptance of this new wonder treatment. But stem cells are not new; they are as old as time itself. They have been and always will be inside us. The approach, however, in harvesting, cultivating and reinfusing stem cells into ones own system is expensive and not within the reach of the average person. The public is also confused with an avalanche of information on which stem-cell clinic to consult, what stem-cell approach is best, what kind of stem cells to usewhether from a sheep or ones own adult stem cell. Despite the Department of Healths guidelines regarding the superior safety of using adult stem cells over animal sources, the debates continue. If one were to choose adult stem cells, should it be autologous (coming from your own), or are Russian bone marrow stem cells better than the Japanese womens placenta stem cells? Better yet, why not have your very own bone marrow stem cells taken from the back of your hip? Experts claim that the procedure is relatively painless and 100-percent effective. Nobody … Continue reading →