Drug Delivery System

Feature articles “Frontiers of innovative drug discovery based on breakthrough DDS technology” Editor : Hideyoshi Harashima

Drug Discovery Frontier by Live Single-cell Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Sachiko Date, Tsutomu Masujima

2012 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 10-18
Published: January 30, 2012
Released on J-STAGE: April 27, 2012

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2745/dds.27.10

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In contrast to the current molecular imaging technologies which use probes for known molecules, a new single cellular level imaging method was innovated for more exhaustive molecular detection by mass spectrometry combined with visualization of cell morphological dynamism by a video-microscope, called "live single-cell imaging mass spectrometry". This method was successfully applied to drug metabolism analysis in a single hepatitis cell and pico-liter trapping direct molecular analysis of body fluids, such as saliva. This method will directly show the drug localization in a cell and speed up the drug discovery process.

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Innate immunity and next-generation vaccine

Taiki Aoshi, Ken Ishii

2012 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 19-27
Published: January 30, 2012
Released on J-STAGE: April 27, 2012

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2745/dds.27.19

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Recent proceedings in the research of molecular mechanism of innate immune system enable us to design and construct more safe and effective vaccine based on the scientific rationale instead of empirical way. We describe here an overview of the current understanding of how innate immunity elicit and enhance adaptive immune responses, including CD4T cell differentiation to Th1, Th2, and Th17. We also discuss possible application of drug delivery system for next-generation vaccine development.

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Formation and Regulation of niche for cancer stem cells

Nobuyuki Takakura

2012 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 28-33
Published: January 30, 2012
Released on J-STAGE: April 27, 2012

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2745/dds.27.28

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Cancer has cancer stem cells (CSCs) which can self-renew and produce a lot of cancer cells. CSCs are malignant cells showing resistance against usual cancer therapy and higher invasive and metastatic behaviors. Blood vessels provide a niche that supports self-renewal of stem cell populations in normal organs. This role also extends to the field of cancer biology. CSCs have been implicated in hematological and solid cancers. Identification of these cells and their niche is critical for elucidating molecular targets to inhibit their growth and to destroy their niche. For this purpose, sorting of living CSCs is required to monitor their presence in the presumptive niche in order to establish whether a CSC candidate actually shows malignant features.

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Tumor microenvironment and Tumor Endothelial Cells

Kyoko Hida

2012 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 34-39
Published: January 30, 2012
Released on J-STAGE: April 27, 2012

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2745/dds.27.34

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Tumor blood vessels play an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. We have shown that tumor endothelial cells (TEC) upregulate specific gene expressions. These molecules could be a novel target for for ideal antiangiogenic therapy.

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Evec, bio-venture for development of antibody therapeutics

Kenzo Takada

2012 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 40-46
Published: January 30, 2012
Released on J-STAGE: April 27, 2012

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.2745/dds.27.40

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Human blood B-lymphocytes are activated through natural immune reaction, such as reaction to infection. B-lymphocytes are stimulated repeatedly with a small amount of antigen, and thus only those producing high affinity antibodies are activated. Consequently the lymphocytes producing the antibodies with high-affinity are accumulated in human blood. Therefore, human lymphocytes are an excellent source of high-affinity antibodies. Evec, Inc. has established a unique method to develop high-affinity antibodies from human lymphocytes, using Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) which has the activity to induce proliferation of B-lymphocytes. The method is to induce proliferation of B-lymphocytes from human blood using EBV, and isolate those producing antibodies of interest. Here, I describe Exec's antibody technology and experiences of license negotiations with Mega Pharmas.

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