Russian scientists have created a modified cytokine to suppress cancer 
Russian scientists have created polymer nanoparticles that kill cancer. These particles are associated with the anti-tumor protein TRAIL DR5, which causes cell death. The study is briefly described in a press release on the Godnauki.rf website.
TRAIL is a cytokine that interacts with five cellular receptors. When binding to two of them – DR4 and DR5 – signals of apoptosis are triggered, that is, programmed cell death. However, the other three receptors inhibit signal transmission or block them altogether. In addition, the body itself may not produce enough cytokines to suppress tumor growth, and the artificially injected TRAIL is rapidly cleared from the body.
Researchers have created modified cytokines that are more likely to bind to the DR4 or DR5 receptor. TRAIL DR5 targets DR5, and this modified cytokine is delivered to the target organ by nanoparticles consisting of amphiphilic (that is, having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties) polymers.
In aqueous solution, polymer molecules spontaneously form nanosized spherical particles with hydrophilic surface and hydrophobic core. These spheres capture molecules inside themselves or transfer them to the surface. The size of each particle reaches about 200 nanometers, and the sphere itself carries several molecules of the antitumor cytokine TRAIL DR5-B. In total, one milligram of nanoparticles accounts for up to five micrograms of protein.