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THE
NANOTECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION IN BIOPHARMACEUTICS
Nanoviricide Design Goals (continued)
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A nanoviricide is designed to specifically seek and attach to a virus particle, engulfing the virus particle in the process, thereby theoretically rendering it incapable of infecting new cells. This is only the suggested or "design-goal" mechanism of action. The action of a nanoviricide in this regard may be expected to be superior to antibody agents that attack viruses as well. While antibodies, being large, are expected to block relatively greater portions of the virus particle surface compared to small molecule entry inhibitors, antibodies depend upon the human immune system responses for clearing up the antibody-coated virus particle. In contrast, nanoviricides have been designed to act as programmed chemical robots that finish their task of destroying the virus particle on their own.
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A nanoviricide is also capable of encapsulating, or hiding, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in its core, or "belly". Such encapsulation may lead to reduced toxic effects of the API. Such encapsulated agents are currently being used in anti-cancer therapy and have shown reduced toxicity as well as increased efficacy, as in the case of Doxil®. For further information, please see NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer.
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