Getting under the skin of psoriasis

Good news! Amazing stuff! This study combines two of the latest technologies!

"... an ionic liquid (IL) combination to successfully deliver a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based treatment directly to the skin in a mouse model of psoriasis, significantly reducing levels of inflammatory cytokines and symptoms of psoriasis without systemic side effects. ..."

"... However, effective delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) into the skin is a substantial hurdle due to skin’s barrier function and poor stability of siRNA. Using ionic liquids as an enabling technology, we report on the effective delivery of NFKBIZ siRNA into the skin and its therapeutic efficacy in a psoriasis model. Treatment with IL-siRNA suppressed aberrant gene expression and resulted in down-regulation of psoriasis-related signals including TNF-α and IL-17A. These results provide a framework for a topical delivery platform for siRNA."

Getting under the skin of psoriasis Ionic-liquid-based technology delivers RNA therapeutic to locally block psoriasis-associated genes in mice

Here is the link to the research paper: Treatment of psoriasis with NFKBIZ siRNA using topical ionic liquid formulations

Bone marrow-on-a-chip models damage and disease

Recently, I blogged here about body-on-a-chip!  Now, a new organ-on-a chip has been reported! Amazing stuff!

"Until David Chou, Viktoras Frismantas and their colleagues developed the bone marrow chip, the only way to study living marrow tissue effectively was to take painful biopsies from the bones. ... we are in a position to assist in the design of human clinical trials for rare genetic disorders and advance personalized medicine in ways not possible before"

Bone marrow-on-a-chip models damage and disease – Physics World: Human bone marrow chip provides a reliable model to study bone marrow damage by radiation, drugs and disease

A probiotic therapy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Good news!

"Now, a research team ... has developed a living-material approach that uses a strain of genetically engineered E.coli Nissle gut bacteria as a locally acting probiotic. The engineered bacteria produce a network of nanofibers that directly binds to mucus to fill inflamed areas like a patch, shielding them from gut microbes and environmental factors. ... “The Probiotic Associated Therapeutic Curli Hybrids (PATCH) approach, as we named it, creates a biocompatible, mucoadhesive coating that functions as a stable, self-regenerating Band-Aid and provides biological cues for mucosal healing.”"

A probiotic therapy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease – Harvard Gazette: A genetically programmed living hydrogel material that facilitates intestinal wound healing is being considered for development as a probiotic therapy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.