Johns Hopkins University researchers have developed biodegradable nanosized particles that can bypass the body's mucus secretions to deliver a sustained-release medication cargo. The nanoparticles, which degrade over time into harmless components, could someday be used to carry life-saving drugs to individuals suffering from dozens of health conditions, such as cystic fibrosis.

The team, led by Justin Hanes, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Johns Hopkins' Whiting School of Engineering, designed nanoparticles that were able to travel through notoriously thick cystic fibrosis mucus at a greater velocity than ever before, improving drug delivery. The nanoparticles could also be applied to treat disorders such as lung and cervical cancer, and inflammation of the sinuses, eyes, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. For example, rather than delivering chemotherapy treatments - and unwanted side effects - to the whole body, drugs could be encapsulated and inhaled directly into the lungs of lung cancer patients.

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