Research Could Eventually Lead to New Treatment Methods for Cancer or Diabetes
ST. LOUIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Shriners Children’s researchers have developed a new way to use the body’s natural internal clock to optimize the delivery of medications and increase their effectiveness.
Shriners Children’s St. Louis Director of Research Dr. Farshid Guilak recently published findings on a revolutionary new method of “chronotherapy,” the administration of drugs based on the body’s circadian rhythm, potentially changing how medicine is delivered for a variety of conditions in the future.
“This is the first time that the cell’s natural internal clock has been used for controlling drug delivery and it showcases that finding your body’s optimal time for taking medicine can dramatically impact its effectiveness,” said Dr. Guilak.
Circadian rhythm refers to the body’s 24-hour clock, which is regulated by the brain and responds to light. Using a combination of synthetic biology and tissue engineering, Dr. Guilak’s research team developed circadian-based gene circuits, termed “chronogenetics,” that can be programmed into stem cells that, once implanted in the body, align with a patient’s natural circadian rhythm and deliver anti-inflammatory drugs daily at a prescribed time.
“Every cell in our body is on a 24-hour cycle, including cells that can carry flares of inflammation that often accompany conditions like rheumatoid and juvenile arthritis,” said Dr. Guilak. “Patients who have arthritis pain often experience their peak symptoms in the early mornings, around 3 a.m. to 5 a.m., which isn’t an ideal time for a child to take medicine. The bioengineered stem cells we’ve created will automatically release the drugs timed to when your body needs them so we can stop inflammation flares even before they happen.”
Dr. Guilak said his team’s research has shown that timing the application of medicine to line up with the body’s circadian rhythm can not only help relieve pain but, in some cases, change the course of the disease. He said the findings could eventually be utilized to treat other health conditions, such as cancer or diabetes.
“For diseases like juvenile arthritis, which can be very painful for children, the sooner you treat the condition, the more you can prevent inflammation that damages the joints,” said Dr. Guilak. “If the body can receive medication ahead of those flare-ups that therefore prevents joint damage, then the disease won’t progress. This technology has the potential to change a lot of lives. There are no drugs that currently reverse the course of a disease, but we’re hopeful this could do that.”
Dr. Guilak is also the Mildred B. Simon Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis and co-Director of the Washington University Center of Regenerative Medicine. His team is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin clinical trials in the next 3-5 years. This research was supported by Shriners Children’s and the National Institutes of Health.
About Shriners Children’s
Shriners Children’s improves the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, conducting innovative research, and offering outstanding education programs for medical professionals. Children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care, regardless of the families’ ability to pay or insurance status, and receive all care and services in a compassionate, family-centered environment. For more information, please visit shrinerschildrens.org.
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