Marina de Souza Guimarães, Jorge Javier Muso Cachumba, Cecilia Zorzi Bueno, Karin Mariana Torres-Obreque, Grace Verónica Ruiz Lara, Gisele Monteiro, Leandro Ramos Souza Barbosa, Adalberto Pessoa, Carlota de Oliveira Rangel-Yagui
L-asparaginase (ASNase) is an important biological drug used to treat Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). It catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-asparagine (Asn) in the bloodstream and, since ALL cells cannot synthesize Asn, protein synthesis is impaired leading to apoptosis. Despite its therapeutic importance, ASNase treatment is associated to side effects, mainly hypersensitivity and immunogenicity. Furthermore, degradation by plasma proteases and immunogenicity shortens the enzyme half-life. Encapsulation of ASNase in liposomes, nanostructures formed by the self-aggregation of phospholipids, is an attractive alternative to protect the enzyme from plasma proteases and enhance pharmacokinetics profile...
August 29, 2022: Pharmaceutics