Therapeutics: microRNA-145 (miR-145)

Rat studies suggest cationic lipopolyamine-based nanoparticles loaded with small RNA-based therapeutics could help treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and other lung diseases. In a rat model of PAH, nanoparticles loaded with an anti-miR-145 antisense oligonucleotide accumulated in the lung and several other tissues, and decreased miR-145 levels in the lung compared with the liver, spleen and kidneys. Also in the model, the nanoparticles decreased pulmonary arteriopathy, pulmonary hypertension and cardiac dysfunction compared with nanoparticles loaded with a control oligo. Next steps by Celsion Corp. include additional studies to determine the nanoparticles' mechanism of lung-specific activity...