Intracellular Protein Delivery for treating Breast Cancer

Specific induction of cell death in tumors is considered one of the most desired and effective anticancer therapies. Effective strategies to activate the apoptotic pathway, or other death mechanisms, are currently being intensely pursued. A potent chemotherapy option is directly arming the cancer cells with executioner proteins or apoptotic-inducing proteins that are not targeted by anti-apoptotic maneuvers found in many tumors. During this period, we showed that the tumor suppressor, cellular guardian p53 can be recombinantly produced, encapsulated into polymeric nanocapsules, and be delivered to different cancer cell lines. The super p53, which contains the S121F mutation can selectively kill tumor cells. In addition, we also developed a new nanocapsule synthesis strategy that allowed facile modification of polymer surface with tumor targeting ligands using click chemistry. Using such modified nanocapsule, we demonstrate the p53 cargo is only internalized into cancer cells that overexpress the targeting receptor. Animal studies will be performed in the next period (no cost extension).
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