Intra-articular bioactivity of a p38 MAPK inhibitor and development of an extended-release system.

In the treatment of arthritic diseases, oral or systemic administration of anti-inflammatory substances, such as p38 MAPK inhibitors, is hampered by numerous side effects. To overcome them, formulations of rapid and extended drug delivery systems were studied in intra-articular administration. For the first time, VX-745, a highly selective p38 MAPK inhibitor, demonstrated in vivo bioactivity, similar to dexamethasone activity, following intra-articular administration in an antigen-induced arthritic (AIA) mouse model.

Selective photodetection and photodynamic therapy for prostate cancer through targeting of proteolytic activity.

Frequent side effects of radical treatment modalities and the availability of novel diagnostics have raised the interest in focal therapies for localized prostate cancer. To improve the selectivity and therapeutic efficacy of such therapies, we developed a minimally invasive procedure based on a novel polymeric photosensitizer prodrug sensitive to urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). The compound is inactive in its prodrug form and accumulates passively at the tumor site by the enhanced permeability and retention effect.

Thrombin-sensitive dual fluorescence imaging and therapeutic agent for detection and treatment of synovial inflammation in murine rheumatoid arthritis.

We have developed a thrombin-sensitive polymeric photosensitizer prodrug (T-PS) to selectively image and eradicate inflammatory lesions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Thrombin is a serine protease up-regulated in synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. T-PS consists of a polymeric backbone, to which multiple photosensitizer (PS) units are tethered via short thrombin-cleavable peptide linkers.

Enhanced prostate cancer targeting by modified protease sensitive photosensitizer prodrugs.

Prodrugs combining macromolecular delivery systems with site-selective drug release represent a powerful strategy to increase selectivity of anticancer agents. We have adapted this strategy to develop new polymeric photosensitizer prodrugs (PPP) sensitive to urokinase-like plasminogen activator (uPA). In these compounds (to be referred to as uPA-PPPs) multiple copies of pheophorbide a are attached to a polymeric carrier via peptide linkers that can be cleaved by uPA, a protease overexpressed in prostate cancer (PCa).

On the cutting edge: protease-sensitive prodrugs for the delivery of photoactive compounds.

Most invasive diseases such as cancer or rheumatoid arthritis are characterized by the upregulation of diverse proteases. Since the early 1970s this phenomenon has been exploited for the selective delivery of a variety of drugs. However, only recently have we and others tried to translate this concept into photomedicine.

Synergies of VEGF inhibition and photodynamic therapy in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and the administration of compounds acting against vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) are approved for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Experimental evidence that the combined use of both treatment options may improve therapeutic outcome is presented.

Methods: Fertilized chick eggs were incubated until day 12 of embryo development (EDD12) and were treated by PDT using two different photosensitizing agents (liposomal formulation of BPD-MA; m-THPP encapsulated in polymeric nanoparticles) and were visualized using an epifluorescence microscope.