Using Anticancer Drug Targets as Delivery Vehicles... World's First Implementation

The anticancer and angiogenesis inhibition process of TNT (Tubulin Nano Tube) loaded with anticancer drugs

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Domestic researchers have developed a technology in Korea that repurposes target proteins, which anticancer drugs are supposed to attack, as delivery carriers for anticancer drugs. This is expected to open a new chapter in cancer treatment using anticancer drugs.

KAIST announced on the 24th that a joint research team, with KAIST doctoral students Jinju Kim and Joonchul Lee as co-first authors and professors Sangyong Jeon and Myungchul Choi as co-corresponding authors, has for the first time in the world implemented a method to utilize microtubules?which act as ropes pulling chromosomes during cell division?as delivery materials for anticancer drugs. The team's paper was published on the 20th in the international journal Advanced Materials.

The research team developed a technology to enhance the efficacy of anticancer drugs through a contrarian approach. They succeeded in securing a technology that utilizes microtubules as carriers capable of delivering anticancer drugs.

Microtubules play a role in pulling chromosomes during cell division in our bodies, dividing them into two daughter cells. Microtubules are composed of tubulin proteins and have a long tubular nanostructure shape. Tubulin proteins contain multiple intrinsic binding sites where anticancer drugs strongly bind. Various anticancer drugs utilize these sites to inhibit the division of cancer cells and induce their death, thereby treating cancer.

The process of creating TNT (Tubulin Nano Tube) loaded with anticancer drugs

Unlike conventional methods, the research team developed a nano tubulin tube (TNT) that can utilize tubulin proteins as carriers to deliver anticancer drugs. They created the basic TNT structure by mixing tubulin proteins with a block copolymer PEG-PLL (pegylated poly-L-lysine). Here, tubulin acts as the building block, and PEG-PLL serves as the adhesive that binds them together. Then, three drugs?docetaxel, laulimalide, and monomethyl auristatin E?were loaded onto the TNT. These drugs are anticancer agents currently used in chemotherapy for breast cancer, head and neck cancer, stomach cancer, bladder cancer, and others.

Furthermore, the research team revealed that depending on the type and number of drugs loaded, the structure of the TNT changes, as well as its physical and chemical properties as a drug carrier. This means that the TNT is an 'adaptive carrier' that spontaneously alters its shape according to the drugs it carries. In particular, the team confirmed through experiments on cells and animals that the TNT loaded with anticancer drugs enters cancer cells via the endosome-lysosome pathway and exhibits excellent anticancer efficacy and angiogenesis inhibition effects.

The joint research team stated, "This research result is significant in that it realized a completely new type of drug carrier that has not been reported in academia until now." They added, "TNT is a universal carrier capable of transporting microtubule-targeting therapeutics developed so far and those to be developed in the future, and it will become a 'platform carrier' that can expect synergistic effects from various anticancer drugs."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.