Paper Title
Nano-Therapy with a Noveltumor Enzyme-Based Targeted Delivery System
Abstract
We describe the design, development and in vitro performance of a novel nanoscale platform capable of inducing specific structural modification byenzymatic activity. Surface modification allowed the nanoparticle platforms to mimic physiologically inert structures until activation and cleavage by the tumor-specific enzyme, matrix metalloprotease-7 (MMP-7).Two synthesized probes containing distinct fluorescent species and fluorescently labeled cleavable peptide substrate were monitored by gel electrophoresis using quantitative analysis. The model nanoparticles exhibited significant susceptibility to cleavage by MMP-7 at physiological concentrations, with nearly complete cleavage after 24h.This response was MMP-7 enzyme-specific, as cleavage was completely inhibited with molar concentrations of EDTA. The nanoparticle system further combines various attributes for detection, targeting, and payload delivery into a single, multifunctional nanoparticle structure. The successful utilization of MMP-7-specific modification in this noveltumor enzyme-activated delivery system termed TEDS, should have broad implications for tumor-targeted therapy.
Keywords - Nanoparticles, Targeted therapy, Enzymes, Tumors