Method For Effiecient Delivery Of Proteins Into Cells
Background:
The National Cancer Institute's Protein Expression Laboratory is
seeking statements of capability or interest from parties
interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate,
or commercialize methods for delivery of proteins using virus-like
particles.
Proteins are critical to all biological manifestations from normal
cell behavior to diseases including cancer. A convenient
method to deliver proteins into cells would have wide ranging
applications in cell biology including gene therapy and targeted
killing of tumors. Current methods to deliver proteins include
retrovirus, DNA transfection, protein transduction, microinjection,
complexing the protein with lipids, etc. These methods are
time and labor intensive, unsafe, inefficient, and can be toxic to
cells. Protein transduction is an emerging technology for
delivering proteins into cells that exploits the ability of certain
proteins to penetrate the cell membrane. This technology has
yet to become commonplace in biology because the majority of
proteins remain trapped in the endosome of recipient
cells.
Technology:
This invention describes methods of delivering proteins into cells
using virus-like particles (VLPs). VLPs consist of viral structural
proteins that are capable of self-assembly into a nanoparticle, but
are non-infectious because they lack viral nucleic acids. The
present technology discloses a chimeric VLP that can be used to
deliver functional fusion proteins or fully-processed proteins into
target cells. By utilizing highly effective viral machinery,
the problem of endosomal entrapment is eliminated and proteins can
be delivered to target cells far more efficiently than existing
protein transduction methods. In addition to protein therapy
that can be used to treat numerous diseases and disorders, this
technology can also be used for expansion of stem cells for
transplantation as well as for the development of cancer
vaccines.
Further R&D Needed:
- Study the effect in vivo by injecting VLPs into mice
R&D Status: Pre-clinical
IP Status:
- U.S. Patent Application No. 61/195,084 filed 03 Oct 2008
Value Proposition:
- Ability to deliver proteins into target cells easier, cheaper,
and with less toxicity than existing methods
- More efficient than other protein transduction methods because
proteins do not remain trapped in the endosome
- Numerous potential applications, including targeted killing of
tumors, gene therapy, stem cell transplantation, and cancer vaccine
development
Contact Information:
John D. Hewes, Ph.D.
NCI Technology Transfer Center
Tel: 301-435-3121
Email: hewesj@mail.nih.gov
Please reference advertisement #811
Revised 1/29/2009
This opportunity is also listed under the following categories: