title: Pharmaceutical technology at the service of targeted drug delivery.
abstract: Research in pharmaceutical technology has drifted from formulation of systems with improved drug absorption and bioavailability to systems targeting molecular sites of diseases. The research unit of Pharmaceutical Technology from the University of Geneva focuses on the development of  systems for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Three types of constructs for targeting are reviewed. With a fine-tuning of size and surface composition, polymeric nanoparticles are developed to improve detection of micrometastasis by fluorescence imaging. Furthermore, surface coating  with specific antibodies increase the therapeutic efficiency of the encapsulated chemotherapeutic agent for tumor treatment in animal models. Constructs that are activated by remote sources of energy are investigated in the unit. For instance, microbubbles bearing specific antibody fragments  at their surface are useful contrast agents for ultrasound molecular imaging. Microbubbles, if combined with a thrombolytic drug and ultrasound, improve clot lysis, which is promising for stroke treatments. Enzymatically activated prodrug scaffolds are also under development. With this approach,  intrinsic enzymatic activity of a diseased tissue activates the formulations. This concept led to the development of theranostic agents that can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Geneva, University of Lausanne 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. eric.allemann@unige.ch
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Allémann
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delie
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003287:Contrast Media; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000639:trends*; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D045423:Microbubbles; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000639:trends*; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D004798:Enzymes