A targeted anti-HIV drug delivery to the GALT

Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide
predominantly in resource-limited countries. The present Combined Antiretroviral Therapy (cART)
has significantly reduced disease mortality among patients. However, the virus still persists in
viral reservoir organs such as Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Mostly cART drugs have
failed to eradicate GALT reservoir because of its complex physiology. In this regard, drugs that
specifically reach out to that remote lymphatic tissue at therapeutic level for an extended period
of time will be of current interest. Considering the next-generation therapy for HIV-1 as one of the
priority research areas of Office of AIDS Research, we propose to develop a nanomedicine based
long-acting anti-HIV drug formulation targeting Microfold cells (M-cell) in the GALT. M-cells are
specialized epithelial cells that are predominantly present in the gastrointestinal tract. It effectively
transports many micromolecules to the underlying mucosal immune system. Considering the
transcytosis property of M-cell, we have developed a pluronic nanocarrier containing three
currently recommended anti-HIV drugs (also called nanodrug). This nanodrug is bio-conjugated
with anti-M-cell specific antibody for targeted drug delivery to M-cell. We hypothesize that an M-
cell mediated drug delivery will be more sustained and effective than conventional drugs to the
GALT.