The University of Texas at El Paso researchers are working on a new treatment using nanoparticles for skin and lung fibrosis. These conditions are known to cause severe tissue damage. Md Nurunnabi, Ph.D., is leading the research and has published two studies on the topic in the medical Journal of C.Controlled Release; Two separate studies are being conducted, one on skin fibrosis and the other on lung fibrosis. According to Nurunnabi, “We are closer than ever to developing a safe, effective and reliable approach to treating fibrosis.” Fibrosis is a condition in which the tissues in an organ, such as the skin, lungs, liver, or kidneys, become thicker and stiffer. This can have multiple damaging effects, such as the lungs not being able to hold enough oxygen or blood vessels becoming narrower, leading to high blood pressure. Nurunnabi also mentioned that they studied fibrosis during their postdoctoral training but became interested in focusing on it further.”During the COVID-19 pandemic,” Nurunnabi stated, “I noticed that many people were not dying directly from COVID, but rather from the inflammation and scarring caused by the virus in the lungs. Our lab is dedicated to creating nanotechnology that can specifically target these cells.”
Fibrosis can be a consequence of chemotherapy, viral infections, or autoimmune diseases, where the body’s immune system attacks its own cells. In the case of an autoimmune condition, the body destroys fibroblasts, which are essential for forming connective tissue. This leads to an overproduction of collagen, resulting in fibrosis.Nurunnabi’s team concentrated on creating a nanoparticle that could target the cells responsible for fibrosis without affecting the healthy cells essential for the body’s proper functioning. Instead of eliminating the “bad” cells, the team was able to alter them so that they stopped overproducing collagen, effectively restoring the cells. The experiments were carried out in both test tubes and mice.
“Dr. Nurunnabi’s investigation of skin and lung fibrosis provides insight into the harmful effects of these conditions, whether they are sudden or long-lasting,” said José Rivera, Pharm.D.The founding dean of the School of Pharmacy said that the findings of Md Nurunnabi offer hope for better treatments that could significantly increase life expectancy and improve the quality of life for affected individuals.
Nurunnabi’s lab is funded through a collaborative program between UTEP, the National Institutes of Health, and Baylor College of Medicine, as well as a pilot grant from the National Scleroderma Foundation to conduct research related to the treatment of fibrosis.
