Tattoo therapy could help multiple sclerosis patients

A new method using a temporary drug tattoo could soon be available to help control chronic diseases like multiple sclerosis.

The temporary tattoo uses antioxidant nanoparticles modified with polyethylene glycol, which is then taken up by cells in the immune system. In multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune disease, T cells are thought to lose their ability to distinguish between invaders and heath tissue and attack both. The temporary tattoo makes the drugs more available for uptake by T cells.

Research published in Scientific Reports  by scientists at Baylor College of Medicine, found that placing the nanoparticles under the skin rather than into the bloodstream, made the drug lasted longer.

The team at Baylor ran tests that showed nanoparticles were internalised by T cells, which inhibited their function, but were ignored by macrophages.

Lead author graduate student Redwan Huq said: The majority of current treatments are general, broad-spectrum immunosuppressants, they’re going to affect all of these cells, but patients are exposed to side effects ranging from infections to increased chances of developing cancer. So we get excited when we see something new that could potentially enable selectivity. Since the macrophages and other splenic immune cells are unaffected, most of a patient’s existing immune system remains intact, he said.

The scientists found that the nanoparticles marked the skin, but instead of seeing it as a downside, they imagined the drug delivery system as a potential for creative ways of treatment for children.

Baylor’s associate professor Dr Christine Beeton said: Placed just under the skin, the carbon-based particles form a dark spot that fades over about one week as they are slowly released into the circulation. “We saw it made a black mark when we injected it, and at first we thought that’s going to be a real problem if we ever take it into the clinic. But we can work around that. We can inject into an area that’s hidden, or use micropattern needles and shape it.”

"I can see doing this for a child who wants a tattoo and could never get her parents to go along," she said. "This will be a good way to convince them."