Why in News:

• A type of nanoparticle designed by researchers from University of Massachusetts embodies a new approach to treating diseases that could potentially revolutionise the field.
  • A nanoparticle or ultrafine particle is usually defined as a particle of matter that is between 1 and 100 nanometres (nm) in diameter. The term is sometimes used for larger particles, up to 500 nm.

What is the new approach?

• The new concept, namely, Protein–Antibody Conjugates or PACs, combines two different approaches to drug delivery. One is biologics, where the idea is to target a defective protein in the system by delivering proteins to it.
• The other concept is of using antibodies for drug delivery. Antibodies are something the body produces to detect a foreign substance inside the body. Drug molecules can be attached to the antibody, forming drug–antibody conjugates.

Significance of this discovery

• Most drugs work this way: If the protein has a particular shape – bent concave like a cup for example, the drug is designed to fit into the bent portion, like a key into a lock, so that the protein’s function is inhibited, and it cannot function.
• But some of the proteins have an open structure, it is difficult to design a drug that can bind to it, because it is so wide. However, using a protein molecule, which is typically large, can solve this problem.
• The protein–antibody conjugate is like an addressed envelope containing the drug. The antibody plays the role of the address and indicates the cell where the drug should precisely be delivered.

 Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/new-approach-to-drug-delivery-combines-biologics-and-antibody-drug-conjugates/article34567448.ece