Drug Delivery System and Method for Targeting Cancer Stem Cells
AssigneeUniversity of South Carolina
InventorESMAIEL JABBARI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for targeting specific cancer cell subpopulations present in tumor tissue are described. A system can include a first component for specifically targeting cancer stem cells and a second component for specifically targeting differentiated cancer cells. A system can include a drug conjugated to small (e.g., 5-20 nm) nanoparticles, e.g., polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane nanoparticles. The small nanoparticles can be preferentially taken up by cancer stem cells via macropinocytosis and can release a toxic payload within the cancer stem cells without triggering the efflux pump. A system can include a second component that targets differentiated cancer cells, e.g., a free drug or a drug encapsulated in nanoparticles.
Claims19
A drug delivery system comprising a first biologically active agent that directly or indirectly affects cancer stem cells conjugated to a first nanoparticle, the first nanoparticle having a size of from about 5 nanometers to about 20 nanometers.
A method for targeting cancer stem cells, the method comprising delivering a first nanoparticle to an area containing the cancer stem cells, the first nanoparticle having a size of from about 5 nanometers to about 20 nanometers, the first nanoparticle being conjugated to a first biologically active agent that is configured to directly or indirectly effect the cancer stem cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.