The invention refers to a modular platform for redirection carriers for sonodynamic applications (STDs), based on engineered bacteriophages in various industries. The platform could be applied to personalized medicine and innovative therapies / applications “by design”.
Patent title | Modular phage vector platform for sonodynamic therapy |
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Thematic area | Health |
Ownership | ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA' DI BOLOGNA |
Inventors | Andrea Cantelli, Alberto Danielli, Matteo Calvaresi, Michela Nigro, Francesco Starinieri, Matteo Di Giosia, Edoardo Sarti |
Protection | Europe, United States, Japan |
Licensing status | Available for development agreements, option, license and other exploitation agreements |
Keywords | Targeting vector, Bacteriophage, Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), Molecular biotechnology, Nanobiotechnology |
Filed on | 26 June 2019 |
Bacteriophages (phages) are ubiquous viruses that infect bacteria while being inactive against eukaryotic cells. Thanks to their characteristics, phages receive increasing attention as a protein platform for the assembly of functional molecules and nanostructured materials.
The invention aims to overcome one of the core drawbacks of the SDT, in relation to the high powers of ultrasound to be put in place to obtain an activation of sensitizers in order to be effective.
The invention consists of a phage vector platform that can be used for the selective SDT of either bacterial or cancer cells. Upon sonodynamic irradiation of the specimen, the vector mediates selective killing of the target cells while increasing SDT efficacy and specificity.
APPLICATIONS
- Non-invasive and selective antimicrobial therapies;
- Non-invasive and selective anti tumour therapies;
- Applications based on triggerable, focusable, soft and tissue penetrating radiation sources.
ADVANTAGES
- Modularity of the platform;
- Possibility to enhance cytotoxic effect;
- Redirecting affordability thanks to basic molecular techniques;
- Low cost phage vector production;
- Very low cytotoxicity of the vector itself.