NU 2010-103 

Inventors

Vincent Cryns

Phillip B Messersmith* 

Jing Su 

Short Description

A novel polymer that transports and targets delivery of therapeutics to cancer cells 

Abstract

Northwestern researchers demonstrate the ability to target delivery of an anti-cancer drug to cancer cells using catechol-presenting polymers. These polymeric drug carriers have a chemically defined mechanism for drug loading and release through the pH-sensitive catechol-boronic acid interactions. By targeting the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib specifically to cancer cells using this polymeric carrier, they demonstrated an enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells compared to non-cancer cells. This technology may be further optimized by altering a number of variables, including the catechol polymer architecture, composition and choice of boronic acid-containing therapeutic. Since the boronic acid structure exists already in a number of potent therapeutics, this pH-sensitive strategy may provide a versatile, chemoselective approach for targeted drug delivery to diseased tissues in a broad spectrum of disorders. 

Applications

• Therapeutic: Drug Delivery

Advantages

• Defined drug loading and release
• Ability to target cancer cells

Publications

Su J, Chen F, Cryns V and Messersmith P (2011)  Catechol Polymers for pH-Responsive, Targeted Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells. Journal of the American Chemical Society.  133: 11850-11853. 

IP Status

Issued US Patents Nos. 9,034,829 and 9,636,374.