Nanomedicines in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C – focus on pegylated interferon alpha-2a

Thea Thomas¹, Graham Foster²

¹Specialist Registrar in Gastroenterology, University College London Hospital NHS Trust, London; ²Queen Marys School of Medicine, Barts and The London NHS Trust, London

Abstract: Nanotechnology is the application of nanotechnology within medicine. An illustration of this is the use of pegylation as a means of modifying naturally occurring proteins which may have clinical applications, in order to improve the pharmacodynamics of the protein resulting in an effective medication. An example of this is pegylated interferon. The purpose of this review is to examine the chemistry, clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical studies with 40 kDa pegylated interferon to illustrate the general principles of pegylated biological proteins. The use in clinical practice is reviewed along with the evidence for both efficiacy, safety, and advantages over standard interferon.

Keywords: nanomedicines, nanotechnology, pegylation, pegylated interferon, 40 kDa pegylated interferon alpha-2a, hepatitis C