A New Approach to Drug Delivery

The cells are loaded with drugs that can then be released on demand at specific sites in the human body by using ultrasound. This technique has a wide range of applications, especially in administering toxic drugs such as those used in chemotherapy. Conventional drugs tend to introduce a drug to the entire circulatory system, which increases the risk of side effects. The new system provides control over where the drugs are released in the body. Developed by scientists at biotechnology company Gendel (Coleraine, Northern Ireland), the new delivery system is now ready to be tested on human subjects.

"What is really exciting is that our system can also be used to deliver novel gene-based drugs that are known to be effective in treating certain diseases buy which cannot be used routinely because of the severe side effects they can cause when administered conventionally,” said Dr. Les Russell, chief executive of Gendel.