Maleimide-PEG-PLA from PolySciTech used in development of targeted nanoparticle therapy for breast cancer

Breast cancer is a very common form of cancer representing about 30% of all cancer cases diagnosed. Most common forms of breast cancer are well treated with HER2 targeted therapies and other options however forms of breast cancer which do not have the typical markers on their cell-surface (referenced as ‘Triple-negative’ breast cancer) remain difficult to treat. Recently, researchers at University of Minnesota used PLA-PEG-Mal (AI119) and PLGA-Rhodamine (AV011) from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) to create a perlecan targeted therapy system. Perlecan is a recently discovered marker which holds promise for efficacy against a range of cancers. This research holds promise for improved breast-cancer therapy. Read more: Khanna, Vidhi, Stephen Kalscheuer, Ameya Kirtane, Wenqui Zhang, and Jayanth Panyam. "Perlecan-targeted nanoparticles for drug delivery to triple-negative breast cancer." Future Drug Discovery 1, no. 1 (2019). https://www.future-science.com/doi/abs/10.4155/fdd-2019-0005

“Aim: We previously developed two antibodies that bind to a cell surface protein, perlecan, overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The goal of this study was to investigate these antibodies as targeting ligands for nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery. Methods: Paclitaxel-loaded poly(D,L-lactide-coglycolide) nanoparticles were functionalized with antibodies using thiol–maleimide chemistry. Effect of antibody functionalization on therapeutic efficacy of drug-loaded nanoparticles was investigated using in vitro and in vivo models of TNBC. Results: The antibodies were covalently conjugated to nanoparticles without affecting antibody binding affinity or nanoparticle properties. Perlecan-targeted nanoparticles showed improved cell uptake, retention, cytotoxicity in vitro and enhanced tumor growth inhibition in vivo. Conclusion: The data presented here indicates that perlecan-targeted nanoparticles can improve tumor drug delivery to TNBC. Keywords: antibody, perlecan, polymeric nanoparticles, targeted drug delivery, triple-negative breast cancer”

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