Russian scientists have announced a new medical breakthrough that could increase the effectiveness of drugs for treating leukemia by eight times. The achievement is based on the development of a method that involves adding positively charged polymer particles to the lipid nanoshell of the asparaginase-based drug.Professor Elena Kudryashova from Moscow State University explained that binding the polymers to the enzyme and encapsulating it in liposomes not only improved the enzyme's efficiency and stability but also enhanced its mechanism of action through selective entry into cancer cells. This could have a positive impact on the clinical outcomes for treating leukemia and other malignant tumors.The asparaginase enzyme is widely used in chemotherapy for children with leukemia. It breaks down the amino acid asparagine, which stops protein production and leads to the death of cancer cells.The new innovation allows for a 40% increase in the drug's concentration in nanoparticles and slows its release by three times. This reduces the need for repeated injections and limits immune complications.
