DNA-Based Nanorobots Could Deliver Drugs to the Body

Yeditepe University Faculty of Pharmacy Dean Prof. Dr. Meriç Köksal Akkoç, providing information about developments in drug design in the coming years, stated that DNA-based nano-robots hold promise for cancer treatment

With targeted drugs, smart drugs, and the entry of nanotechnology into our lives, drug design will evolve in a completely different direction in the coming years. DNA-based nano-robots hold great promise in cancer treatment, while artificial intelligence and wearable technologies are just around the corner. Yeditepe University Faculty of Pharmacy Dean Prof. Dr. Meriç Köksal Akkoç, providing information about developments expected in drug design in the coming years, emphasized that parallel to technological advances, more reliable, more effective and higher quality studies are being conducted in drug design.

DNA Nano-robots

Prof. Dr. Meriç Köksal Akkoç stressed that through targeted/smart treatment systems, drug efficacy is increased while side effects are reduced, and explained that development of DNA-based nano-robots is planned within the scope of targeted drug studies. Prof. Dr. Meriç Köksal Akkoç said: "Recent studies and results have shown that DNA-based nano-robotic systems possess much higher activity and selectivity compared to previously agreed-upon treatments. DNA nano-robots are known to potentially result successfully in targeted tumor treatment. Additionally, cancer immunotherapy research can reduce systemic toxicity while increasing response to tumor-directed therapies." Noting that technological advances produce drug candidates with the potential to be effective, Prof. Dr. Akkoç stated that this enables gains in terms of duration and cost in both academic and industrial drug research.

Personalized-Patient-Centric Design

Pointing out that thanks to advances in genetics and biomedical research, the concepts of personalized design and patient-centric design have been placed at the focus of new R&D efforts, Meriç Köksal Akkoç continued as follows: "These studies will enable the widespread use of biosensors such as 'cancer detected pills' in preventive healthcare services, while allowing personalized applications in drug development and dosage regimens. For this purpose, the increasing use of 3D printers in the medical field today will also become widespread in drug design. In fact, with the success of these applications, it will be possible to reduce many economic disadvantages in drug research for rare diseases. Due to more precise and effective body sensors as products of technological advances, more easily obtained, cost-effective and efficient results will be achievable in clinical studies conducted before drugs reach the market."

Social Media for Pharmaceuticals

Prof. Dr. Akkoç, saying that "social media is undoubtedly one of the areas that has increased productivity in the pharmaceutical industry," stated "It has been determined that social media plays a role in many areas, from the search for volunteer patients for clinical studies to the reporting of side effects drugs produce in users. It can be anticipated that social media use in this field will increase even further in the coming years."

Preventive Treatment Will Become Easier

Prof. Dr. Meriç Köksal Akkoç, emphasizing that in pharmaceutical research referred to as "Pharma 4.0," many applications such as artificial intelligence, wearable technologies and body sensors will be effective in fast, efficient and reliable patient treatment, also pointed out that technological advances will facilitate preventive (prophylaxis) treatment.