The best-known variant of "lipid-based drug delivery systems" is the so-called lipid nanoparticle. In the second part of our LBDDS blog series, we will first provide an overview of the developmental history of LNPs and the "endosomal escape" – a crucial point in the transport pathway of LNPs. We will then go into the potential medical applications of LNPs – all the way to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination!
Lipid-based drug delivery systems (LBDDS) have been studied and developed since the 1960s. In 2020, this technology received a lot of attention due to its application in SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. In this first part of our LBDDS two-parter, we will focus on the structure and composition of lipid-based drug delivery systems and the different types of LBDDS. In addition to their application in mRNA vaccines, there are other possible uses for LBDDS, some of which we would like to introduce here.
For the detection of neutralizing antibodies of SARS-CoV-2, sELISA kits offer a convenient alternative to neutralization tests, as they can be used under standard laboratory safety conditions. A recent study compared two commercially available kits and tested their specificity and selectivity.
The recent and rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has necessitated the development of new assays that are capable of detecting the presence of this virus in patient samples or evidence of recent infection.
AAT Bioquest offers a variety of dark-FRET peptide substrates and fluorogenic substrates which can be effectively used to screen for inhibitors of coronavirus proteases, papain-like proteases and more.
Currently, there are no approved drugs to treat the SARS-CoV-2 infection that causes COVID-19. Existing drugs are being examined for strategies to treat the disease.
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, shares 79.5% sequence identity with the virus responsible for SARS. Both viruses use the same receptor ACE2 for mediating viral entry into host cells.
Following the recent pandemic of COVID-19 we are highlighting antibodies against the related SARS-Coronavirus.