Medical

Diagnostics | Therapeutics

Therapeutic Nanomedicines


Therapeutic nanomedicine prototypes under investigation at Luna include:

Scientists at Luna Innovations' nanoWorks division have been developing a unique technology for blocking inflammation, which is responsible for many serious health problems. The technology is based on trapping pathogenic free radicals, which amplify inflammation. Using this technology, Luna is synthesizing a library of compounds and testing them in animal models of inflammatory diseases. The results of these studies have been extraordinary, and the first product candidate is currently being optimized for development.

Luna's program to identify and develop therapeutic products is based on the anti-inflammatory properties of carbon nanospheres known as buckminsterfullerenes. The foundation for this program is the pioneering discoveries of others who have shown that carbon nanospheres are extremely potent free radical traps. Free radicals are molecules that have an uneven number of electrons. The unpaired electron makes them highly reactive. Free radicals produced by cells under oxidative stress cause toxicity to cells and tissues in many different diseases, from allergies to wounds. Radical traps supplement the cells' defense system and neutralize disease-causing radicals before they can cause damage to the cell.

Luna scientists have developed an extensive portfolio of nanosphere compounds that are made functional through chemical modification. Luna believes that by attacking this common chemical pathway, we have the ability to impact a variety of important diseases with products which are based on the carbon nanosphere chemotype that has been tailored for specific applications.

Superoxide radicals are produced in cell organelles when cells are under oxidative stress. Once produced, superoxide radicals rapidly react with other molecules, turning them into radicals. Cells contain a variety of antioxidants to stop radicals, but when the radicals escape, they can cause damage to proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and other cell components which can damage tissues and cause disease symptoms. Luna's therapeutic program is focused on trapping the free radicals that are responsible for these diseases. Luna nanoWorks is actively developing products to treat immune disorders and solutions to stimulate hair growth.

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