Immunotherapy

                                                       Immunotherapy

One of the reasons why cancer is so difficult to treat and cure is because tumor cells can evade surveillance and attack the cells of the immune system, and in doing so may travel freely through the body looking for new niches to flourish and prosper. Therefore, the trigger the immune system so it can better exercise their oversight functions and defense,   Immunotherapy, has become a huge priority to science. And as well the immune system cells have a memory, the protective effects will be long-term and useful as new attacks occur.

Immune cells attacking tumor

Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new model to be introduced into the body biomaterial that self-assemble into a three dimensional structure, a 3D vaccine that could combat and even prevent cancer and other infections such as HIV.

"We can create 3D structures using a minimally invasive delivery method to enrich and activate immune cells of the individual,   in vivo,    and so equip them to attack cells that could be harmful, "says one of the researchers. Structures that are biodegradable nano * cones made ​​of silica, can be loaded with components of chemical and biological drugs and injected subcutaneously. The conitos spontaneously assembled at the site of injection forming a three-dimensional scaffold, something like matches when a tower is armed. The structure has pores that can recruit and filled with dendritic cells, which are cells that monitor monitoring the body and trigger an undesirable immune response when a presence is detected.

Structures as described, with silica particles and nano pores already been shown useful for manipulating cells from the inside, but this is the first time they are used to construct a three-dimensional scaffold with the ability to attract    millions of immune cells.

The nano pores, synthesized in the laboratory, can be filled with various precursor molecules as nucleic acids, proteins or any variety of drugs that are created are useful for treating a wide range of infections.

"Although we are now focused on developing a vaccine against cancer, in the future we load the nano-pores with other molecules that attract other types of dendritic cells and various cells of the immune system," said another of the researchers.

The bottom line is that using a wide range of molecules that attract and give impetus to the various cells of the immune system's ability to combat a broad range of infectious diseases acquires paramount importance. The key is to load with appropriate molecules conitos, all determined and programmed into the laboratory.

Once the scaffold has recruited tridimesional dendritic cells of the body, the drug contained in conitos are released, which alerts the monitoring system and initiate the immune response. Activated dendritic cells leave the scaffold and leave the lymph nodes where fire alarms and attack a specific target and directed to, for example, cancer cells. At the site of the injection, the scaffold biodegrades and dissolves naturally in matter of a few months.

So far the researchers have tested the vaccine only 3D mice with very encouraging results. An experiment showed that the scaffold attracted millions of dendrites, then dispersing the cells to the lymph nodes and firing a very strong immune response.

These 3D shots are easy and inexpensive to make and can be made ​​available quickly when an infectious disease threatens to spread in the population.   

Since the vaccine works by inducing a broad immune response, the method could be used to be used even as a prevention system built upon a form of resistance to infection. "Immunotherapies using programmable biomaterials injected as a powerful vehicle for bringing targeted therapies to cure or prevent disease could help combat a wide range of deadly infectious diseases such as HIV, Ebola and of course cancer," says professor of bioengineering Harvard, Donald Ingber.

These 3D vaccine, administered with a minimally invasive procedure offers a unique opportunity to "copy" the wonderful ability of the body to respond with his entire repertoire to infections and attacks that would otherwise have missed.

If one of the evils of cancer cells is camouflage, disguise, to go undetected by the surveillance system that mounts the immune system and continue to grow at home, immunotherapy could be of great value as it would trigger the attack, and no is against them directly, but, being strengthened and ready for action, it could neutralize and destroy.

Immunotherapy was far from the target of cancer researchers as chemotherapy and radiotherapy came to dominate the field of treatment. Its resurgence has only recently promising results although the journal Science said the milestone of 2013.    Now, if the form of entry into the body is so kind as described, great achievements are expected in the fight against cancer and infectious diseases.  A possible cure coming from within the body

  References Science

@RdzGarlos     With a Creative Commons Licence 4 International