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Nanoparticles based on reactive Polypeptides

Country of Origin: Germany
Reference Number: TODE20180810001
Publication Date: 31 August 2018

Summary

A German university has developed a technology for the production of amphiphilic nanoparticles, which are suitable for medical application. The new technology is dealing with a bifid co-polypeptide consisting of one hydrophilic and one hydrophobic part, thus it is an ideal protection for encapsulated drugs.
The university is looking for companies from France, United Kingdom and Switzerland interested in licensing, further developing and marketing; option agreements are possible.

Description

The German university has found a technology for the formation of polycysteine nanoparticles that have a chemical constitution, which allows numerous of applications as transport particles for drugs or labelling agents.



Currently there are no basic technologies for nanoparticles available, which are suitable for medical application.



Amphiphilic block copolymers comprising a water-soluble and a water-insoluble block can form core-shell particles or micelles which are described to be useful as labelling materials or for the encapsulation of therapeutics. If such particles are to be used for transporting cargo molecules, they should be sufficiently stable so as to avoid an untimely release of the cargo before or after administration. At the same time, the particles should readily release the cargo at the target location and be degraded. Thus, a desirable property of the particles is the capability for a site specific release of the cargo.



The new technology is dealing with a bifid copolypeptide consisting of one hydrophilic polysarcosine and one hydrophobic polycysteine part. The hydrophilic polysarcosine part prevents an unspecific binding on proteins. The polycysteine part forms autonomous micelles in polar solvents, which are stabilized by cross linked disulphide bridges.

Their chemical properties enable the polycysteins to the best possible connection for the encapsulated substance. The polycysteine can be combined with different functional groups. These functional groups comprise basic amino acids or carboxygroups to encapsulate siRNA, mRNA or pDNA.

The resulting micelles can be variated between 50 and 500 nm and are stable in blood, in the cytosol, against glutathione and also survive endocytosis of antigen presenting cells or macrophages. 

When the disulfide bonds are cleaved by metabolisation, the copolymer loses its stability and the active ingredient will be released.



Further details are described in the patent specification, which would be available upon request.



The university offers non-exclusive and exclusive licenses for production and distribution; option agreements for prior testing and evaluating the technology are possible.

Advantages and Innovations

The advantages of the nanoparticles are:

•	They can be combined with different functional groups

•	Micelle diameter can be chosen between 50 and 500 nm for 

        optimisation of the system

•	Improved solubility in serum

•	No immune reaction 

•	Stable in blood

•	Survive endocytosis of antigen presenting cells or 

        macrophages

Stage Of Development

Under development/lab tested

Stage Of Development Comment

Lab prototype is available.

Requested partner

The ideal partner is a company established in the pharmaceutical market, and would be able to further develop and market the technology.

Dissemination Countries

Switzerland, France, United Kingdom