PODS May Aid in Transporting Growth Factors for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, Other Diseases
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PODS (POlyhedrin Delivery System), a new technology designed to transport any protein in the human body, may open up new approaches in treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and other diseases, says its British developer, Cell Guidance Systems.
Created by Hajime Mori, a professor at Japan’s Kyoto Institute of Technology, PODS is based on a survival mechanism used by viruses.
Taking advantage of cubic microstructures formed by a protein called polyhedrin, PODS can stably transport and protect proteins across a range of extreme physical conditions. In the presence of proteases – enzymes that break down proteins – polyhedrin microcrystals are destroyed and slowly release their cargo. This allows PODS to transport unstable proteins such as growth factors, while ensuring a targeted constant release over weeks and months with only a single application.
“As with drugs, delivery mechanism for growth factors makes all the difference,” Christian Pernstich, research director at Cell Guidance Systems, said in a press release. “Standard growth factors are inflexible, sometimes unreliable and lack durability. POD technology overcomes these limitations in a very elegant way.”
The delivery of growth factors helps tissue recover in MS and many other medical conditions. Current MS treatment strategies focus mainly on relieving symptoms of the disease, and not so much on repairing the targeted destruction of central nervous system myelin that actually causes MS. The answer may lie in a new therapy that enables the efficient delivery of growth factors that which could regenerate myelin in MS patients.
Cell Guidance Systems is now conducting preclinical studies on PODS use for Parkinson’s disease, bone regeneration and other conditions.
“As well as research applications, we are actively exploring the medical potential of this technology for vaccine production and for delivery of therapeutic proteins,” said Pernstich. “We are aiming to regenerate tissues that have been damaged by diseases such as multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis and Parkinson’s disease. It is a very promising and exciting technology.”
Mark Rodriguez
I was diagnosed with Ms Sept. of 2016. It appears I had it for many years, but now I'm to the point if I get hot it kicks off an episode, so much that I fall from my ankle giving out. On an ice pack now due to subluxation of my left ankle. This will have me retiring early as a police officer. I don't want this. On Aubagio.
Tierra Warren
Hello my name is Tierra Warren. I found out I had multiple sclerosis and 2009. That was after I had my daughter in August 2008. I seen a video with Montel Williams talking about pods. My first reaction was OK Google knows it all. But then I said he also has Twitter and I made a attempt to reach out to him. But now here I am because this is something that I want not for myself but for my family
LAURIE
Has there been any headway with PODS since this article was written?
Marva Dixson Henderson
I'm very curious as to this pods situation I am a 46 year-old woman and I have Progressive relapsing Multiple Sclerosis I am in a wheelchair but I would like to have more information on this pods so that I can get out of this wheelchair. I have a 15 year old autistic son and it's just me raising him so I need all the help I can get to be a better mother for my son. Please send me or give me more information on this pods. I want to be a better woman mother and person and be out of this wheelchair please help me.