Nanoformulations for targeted delivery to the gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) – IP 1602

HIV-1 still remains one of theleading life-threatening diseases in the world. The introduction of HighlyActive Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has significantly reducedHIV-infection-related morbidity and mortality. However, most antiretroviraldrugs have a short half-life and need to be in circulation constantly tocontrol the virus replication. As a result, it is believed that missing amedication dose even once can provide an opportunity for viruses to replicatesuch that a medication resistant HIV strain may develop. Being the largestlymphoid organ, the gastrointestinal tract plays a key role in not only earlyHIV infection in establishing viral reservoirs in gut-associated lymphoidtissue (GALT) but also disease pathology. Many different treatment options havebeen proposed to eradicate the virus from GALT; however, due to the complexphysiology involved, it is difficult to design drugs that are targeted towardGALT. FIU inventors have developednanodrugs comprising an active agent, a poloxamer, and an antibody toglycoprotein-2 (GP2) or antibody fragment to GP2 that targets microfold cells(M-cells) and facilitates the uptake of the nanodrug by M-cells. M-cells arespecialized epithelial cells that are predominantly present in the GALT. Onceattached to the M-cells, the nanodrugs are transferred from intestine to GALTvia transcytosis mechanisms. Anne Laure Schmitt Olivier aschmitt@fiu.edu 305-348-5948