Targeting of melanocytes for delivering therapeutic or diagnostic agents using protein nanocages

A protein nanocage comprising a melanocyte-targeting moiety and a skin penetrating and cell permeating (SPACE) moiety, wherein the melanocyte-targeting moiety and the skin penetrating and cell permeating (SPACE) moiety are coupled directly to the exterior surface of the protein nanocage, and wherein

• (a) the protein nanocage is composed of protein units selected from the group consisting of Archaeoglobus fulgidus Ferritin (AfFtn) having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, AfFtn-AA protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, Homo sapiens (Human) Ferritin (HsFtn) heavy chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and HsFtn light chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6, and
• (b) the melanocyte-targeting moiety is selected from the group consisting of
• (i) α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) peptide,
• (ii) β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (β-MSH) peptide,
• (iii) γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (γ-MSH) peptide,
• (iv) adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) peptide, and
• (v) a combination of any two or more of (i) to (iv),
• wherein the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, the β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (β-MSH) peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, the γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (γ-MSH) peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, and the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 10;
• and
• (c) the SPACE moiety is a peptide selected from the group consisting of ACTGSTQHQCG (SEQ ID NO:11), ACHSALTKHCG (SEQ ID NO:12), and ACKTGSHNQCG (SEQ ID NO:13).