Original: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpx.2025.100370
Although malaria is now well controlled, it still threatens global health. Artemisinin drugs are the main treatment for malaria, but they do not dissolve well in the body and are removed from the body too quickly, which weakens their effectiveness.
To solve these problems and help the drug accumulate more inside the malaria parasite (Plasmodium), we created a new nanosystem made from a modified form of dihydroartemisinin (DHA). This nanosystem is called D@GLU-PMs-SS, and it includes DHA linked with special molecules and a glucose-based coating.
This nanosystem is very stable during storage and inside the body. It can be activated by a molecule called glutathione (GSH). When GSH triggers it, the nanoparticles break apart and release free DHA.
Lab tests showed that because the nanoparticles are coated with glucose, red blood cells take them up more easily through GLUT transporters, which normally transport glucose. Cell experiments also showed that D@GLU-PMs-SS lowers GSH levels inside the malaria parasite.
The nanosystem strongly suppressed the growth of Plasmodium while remaining safe for the body.
In summary, this study demonstrates a new way to make nanoparticles better at targeting malaria parasites and improving treatment, and it supports future clinical testing.