Design of a nanomedicine able to halt the progression of emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Topic description

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide. The disease is triggered by chronic exposure of the respiratory mucosa to noxious fumes. Accumulation of activated neutrophils in the airways, particularly during exacerbations, results in excessive secretion of active proteases, thereby causing lung matrix destruction and inflammation. The dual effects of emphysematous parenchymal destruction and airway abnormalities generate expiratory flow obstruction and the progressive and irreversible loss of respiratory function. The current treatment in COPD aims at minimizing symptoms and at reducing exacerbations but does not directly address the excess of proteases causing the permanent lung damages. This project precisely aims to address this need by designing a multimeric antibody construct able to inhibit neutrophil elastase, the main protease involved in lung damages, to localize specifically to the inflam...