Nanoparticle

Silica-Based Nanoparticles as Therapeutics for Osteoporosis

Application

Use of silica-based nanoparticles to promote bone formation and inhibit bone resorption for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Key Benefits

Simultaneous suppression of bone resorption and promotion of bone formation.
Stable in a wide range of pH – including stomach pH

Technical Summary

NP-OH1 is a silica based nanoparticle that is capable of simultaneously promoting bone formation (anabolic) while inhibiting bone resorption (anticatabolic). Studies with the available anabolic and anticatabolic therapeutics have shown that neither together nor separately can they effectively recoup bone loss or prevent the occurrence of new fractures due to osteoporosis. NP-OH1 is capable of overcoming this limitation by acting as both an anabolic and anticatabolic therapeutic on a physiological mechanism not currently targeted by any available therapies. Furthermore NP-OH1 is potentially suitable for oral administration compared to the current IV only therapeutics on the market.

Osteoporosis results from the imbalance in bone formation and bone resorption. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts are the two cell populations that regulate bone formation and bone resorption, respectively. A key factor in regulating both processes lies in NF-kB signaling. The cytokine Receptor Activated NF-kB Ligand (RANKL) is required for osteoclast formation and inhibits mineralization promoted by osteoblasts. Treatment with NP-OH1 results in decreased expression of RANKL thus simultaneously stimulating bone mineralization through osteoblasts and repressing osteoclast differentitation. This is a major advantage over current anticatabolic therapeutics that inhibit bone resorption but result in a decline in bone formation due to interdependent mechanisms of these two biological processes.

Read this Emory Lab Land interview http://www.emoryhealthsciblog.com/?p=5303