Case No. 2014-317
SUMMARY
UCLA researchers in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics have devised a novel method to target the HIV virus in patients using nanoparticles loaded with therapeutic agents.
BACKGROUND
Contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) can lead to lifelong complications both physically and mentally. Current HIV therapies are aimed towards controlling the amount of viral replication in patients but fail to completely eliminate the virus. Eradicating the virus from patients is difficult due to a latent population of virus that is established soon after infection. These latent viruses are responsible for the quick recovery of viral loads when a patient is taken off an antiviral regime; therefore, patients must be on medication for life. The ability to totally eliminate these latent viruses will be crucial in reaching a virus-free state in patients.
INNOVATION
The disclosed method by Dr. Zerome Zack is the first described method of treating HIV by first targeting/activating the latent virus with a nanoparticle, followed by treatment using antivirals. Drugs are loaded onto nanoparticles that can be engineered for cell-targeting, improving efficiency of drug delivery. This novel therapeutic approach offers the potential to completely eliminate the virus from a patient.
APPLICATIONS
Therapy option for HIV patients
Drug-loaded nanoparticles can be used in combination with other HIV treatments
Technology can be extrapolated to treat other viral/bacterial infections
ADVANTAGES
Targets latent virus as opposed to only active virus
Method has the potential to completely eradicate virus population in patient
Nanoparticles can be engineered to target specific cells
STATE OF DEVELOPMENT
The invention is at the experimental/working prototype stage. It has been demonstrated to be effective in preclinical and in in vitro assays.
RELATED MATERIALS
Activation of latent HIV using drug-loaded nanoparticles. Kovochich M, Marsden MD, Zack JA. PLoS One. 2011 Apr 5.
Bioengineered vaults: Self-assembling protein shell-lipophilic core nanoparticles for drug delivery. Buehler DC, Marsden MD, Shen S, Toso DB, Wu X, Lu JA, Zhou ZH, Kickhoefer VA, Wender PA, Zack JA, Rome LH. ACS Nano, July 27 2014
PATENT STATUS
Patent Pending