A study from the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center has identified a drug already approved for another condition as a potent inhibitor of inflammation in psoriasis. This repurposing finding is a fast and safe strategy to obtain new treatments. This is where 3D biomedicine becomes crucial: it allows detailed visualization of the complex molecular pathways of the disease and simulation of how the drug blocks them, accelerating its validation. 🔬
3D Molecular Modeling and Bioprinting: Pillars for Understanding and Validating 🧬
The preclinical study demonstrates that the drug inhibits a key molecular pathway. 3D protein modeling and molecular dynamics tools are essential for visualizing that drug-target interaction at the atomic level, understanding its high specificity. In parallel, human skin models generated by 3D bioprinting, which replicate the architecture and inflammatory response of psoriasis, offer an ethical and relevant platform to test the efficacy of this repurposed drug and quantify the reduction of inflammatory markers.
From Simulation to Clinical Practice: An Accelerated Path âš¡
The great advantage of repurposing a drug with a known safety profile is enhanced by 3D technologies. These not only help confirm the mechanism of action, but also can generate customized anatomical models for planning topical or systemic therapies. Thus, the convergence of biological findings and 3D visualization and modeling tools significantly shortens the bridge between laboratory discovery and its clinical application for patients.
How can 3D printing of human skin models with psoriasis reveal the mechanism of action of a repurposed drug?
(PD: and if the printed organ doesn't beat, you can always add a little motor... just kidding!)