A therapeutic compound consisting of 
human telomerase, its catalytic 
subunit hTert, or a known variant of either, and a biodegradable 
nanoparticle carrier, which can be administered to cells in a 
cell culture or in a living animal, is provided herein. The therapeutic compound is envisioned as a method for treating a wide variety of age-related diseases such as 
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, aplastic 
anemia, dyskeratosis congenita, 
arteriosclerosis, 
macular degeneration, 
osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, diabetes type 2, and any 
disease that correlates with 
telomere shortening and may be corrected or ameliorated by lengthening telomeres. The therapeutic compound is also envisioned as method for potentially treating more generic problems of human aging. The 
nanoparticle carrier is comprised of certain biodegradable 
biocompatible polymers such as poly(
lactide-co-glycolide), poly(
lactic acid), poly(alkylene glycol), polybutylcyanoacrylate, poly(methylmethacrylate-co-
methacrylic acid), poly-
allylamine, polyanhydride, polyhydroxybutyric acid, 
polycaprolactone, 
lactide-
caprolactone copolymers, 
polyhydroxybutyrate, polyalkylcyanoacrylates, 
polyanhydrides, polyorthoester or a combination thereof. The 
nanoparticle may incorporate a targeting 
moiety to direct the nanoparticle to a particular 
tissue type or a location within a 
cell. The nanoparticle may incorporate a 
plasticizer to facilitate sustained release of 
telomerase such as L-
tartaric acid dimethyl ester, 
triethyl citrate, or 
glyceryl triacetate. A nanoparticle of the present invention can further contain a 
polymer that affects the charge or 
lipophilicity or hydrophilicity of the particle. Any biocompatible hydrophilic 
polymer can be used for this purpose, including but not limited to, poly(
vinyl alcohol).