title: A clinical commentary on the article "N-acetylglucosamine conjugated to nanoparticles enhances myocyte uptake and improves delivery of a small molecule p38 inhibitor for post-infarct healing" : N-acetylglucosamine conjugated nanoparticles: translational opportunities and barriers.
abstract: Targeting drugs and nanoparticles to cardiomyocytes has been an elusive challenge. Cardiomyocytes are inherently non-phagocytic and their environment is subjected to contractile forces which tend to expel injected and catheter-delivered drugs. In this issue, a novel-targeting strategy, N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc) coating, is shown to enhance cardiomyocyte nanoparticle uptake both in vitro and in vivo. Many effective and proven therapies for myocardial infarction are in clinical use thus raising the bar for the translation of new technologies. Nevertheless, GlcNAc targeting represents a promising approach for improved targeting of drug therapies to cardiomyocytes.
authors.forename: Rebecca D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Levit
authors.forename: W Robert
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004339:Drug Compounding; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D053758:Nanoparticles; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007093:Imidazoles; D011108:Polymers; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; C517410:poly(cyclohexane-1,4-diyl acetone dimethylene ketal); D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C406525:SB 239063; D000117:Acetylglucosamine