title: Gold Nanocarriers for Macrophage-Targeted Therapy of Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
abstract: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a global pandemic and there is an urgent need for innovative treatment. Immune cells represent a major target of virus infection, but are also therapeutic targets. Currently, no antiretroviral therapy targets macrophages, which function as portal of entry and as major long-term deposit of HIV. It has been shown before that human macrophages efficiently internalize gold nanoparticles, a fact which might be used to target them with drug-nanoparticle conjugates. Here, the authors use gold nanocarriers to facilitate delivery of stavudine, a widely used antiretroviral drug, to primary human macrophages. Using an ease-of-use coupling method, a striking potentiation of stavudine intake by macrophages using gold nanocarriers is shown. Further, the carriers induce a specific subtype of proinflammatory activation indicative for antiviral activity of macrophages, which suggests promising novel treatment options for HIV.
authors.affiliation: Area of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Salamanca, Spain, Av. Lcdo Méndez Nieto, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Hinojal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zazo
authors.affiliation: Area of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Salamanca, Spain, Av. Lcdo Méndez Nieto, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Clara I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Colino
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaudia T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Warzecha
authors.affiliation: Electron Microscopic Facility (EMF), Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Mareike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoss
authors.affiliation: Department and Chair of Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry, University Hospital Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gbureck
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trautwein
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tacke
authors.affiliation: Area of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Salamanca, Spain, Av. Lcdo Méndez Nieto, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lanao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine III, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartneck
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D018119:Stavudine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D018119:Stavudine
keywords: HIV; drug delivery; gold nanoparticles; macrophages; nanocarriers; stavudine