Nanotherapy to Treat Intestinal Inflammation

NU 2015-160

PRIMARY INVENTOR
Arun Sharma

SHORT DESCRIPTION
Potent anti-inflammatory nanomolecules to treat chronic intestinal inflammation (ileitis) that is detrimental to tissue function

BACKGROUND
Clinical complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease (CD) can be observed throughout the digestive tract as tissue ulcerations. In over 750,000 patients suffering from CD in the United States, the physiological complications include intestinal obstruction and perforation, bleeding, severe abnormal pain, diarrhea, and the increased risk of cancer. With poor nutrient absorption that deteriorates over time, there is increased risk of metabolic imbalances, low bone density, malnutrition, and developmental delays in CD patients. Treatment options span a wide range, and some patients become unresponsive to treatment over time. Alternative treatment options are needed.

ABSTRACT
Current strategies for managing intestinal inflammation in CD patients have been met with setbacks such as treatment-specific side-effects and development of drug resistance. Researchers at Northwestern University and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago have developed an alternative treatment approach for CD. They have engineered nanomolecules that mitigate small intestinal inflammation within the established, pre-clinical CD-like ileitis mouse model. Data derived from this study demonstrate that the direct injection of nanomolecules into inflammatory areas of the small intestine improve tissue architecture and intestinal physiology. In addition, the nanotherapy significantly reduced inflammatory lesion size and tissue-specific inflammation-inciting factors and inflammatory cells. Intestinal transit time was also significantly improved. The new platform of nanomolecules can serve as a stand alone therapy or be used as a combinatorial approach to treat IBD or other conditions of chronic inflammation.

APPLICATIONS

Treatment for ileitis in Crohn’s disease
Treatment for protracted inflammation in multiple disease settings

ADVANTAGES

Biodegradable and non-toxic nanomolecules
Targetable to specific tissues
Highly reproducible on large scales & at low cost
Can be administered multiple times if required
High-aspect-ratio allowing for concentrated effect of anti-inflammatory peptide

PUBLICATION
Bury MI, Fuller NJ, Clemons TD, Sturm RM, Morrison C, Lisy-Snow D, Nolan B, Tarczynski C, Ayello E, Boyce A, Muckian B, Ahmad N, Hunter CJ, Karver MR, Stupp SI and Sharma AK (2021) Self-assembling nanofibers inhibit inflammation in a murine model of Crohn’s-disease-like ileitis. Advanced Therapeutics. 4: 2000274.

IP STATUS
US patent application has been filed.