Phagocytosis and microparticle drugs
Do you know how our immune systems remove and destroy foreign objects such as bacteria?
Do you know that extremely small particles can be used to deliver drugs?
These pages will tell you about all these things and explain our current work to improve drug design.
Our bodies need to destroy and remove foreign objects such as bacteria and debris. We have specialised cells that do just this job. These cells actively search out foreign objects, "eat" them and then destroy them. Click below to find out exactly how they accomplish this fascinating process.
Find out more...
The problem with microparticle drugs is that our immune systems often destroy them before they can be useful. By looking carefully at the shape and size of the microparticle drugs, we work on trying to trick the immune system so that the drugs can do their job without interference.
Find out more...
Most drugs that we take travel everywhere in our bodies, in the hope that a small fraction will find their way to where they are needed. Wouldn't it be better if drugs could be designed that only went to where the problem is? Microparticle drugs do exactly this and promise a revolution in drug treatment.
Find out more...
Are you an immunology wizz? Do you know your red from your white blood cells? Can you distinguish neutrophils from macrophages? Do you know what a nanometre is and how long a bacteria is? If you think you know it all or simply want to learn more, try our fun quiz.
Take the quiz...