Development of functional polymers to hijack tumor-associated macrophages

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26882022
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Nomoto Takahiro 東京工業大学, 資源化学研究所, 助教 (00734732)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-08-29 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 高分子ミセル / 光増感剤

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was aimed at the development of a novel polymeric nanocarrier that can deliver photosensitizer selectively into tumor-associated macrophages. For this purpose, we constructed a polymeric micelle composed of the amphiphilic copolymer that has a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) and a hydrophobic poly(aspartic acid) derivative, and encapsulated photosensitizers into the core of the micelle. The surface of the photosensitizer-loaded micelle was further modified with the peptides targeting tumor-associated macrophages. In vivo study revealed that the micelle delivered the photosensitizer efficiently to macrophages in the tumor after systemic administration to the mouse bearing a subcutaneous tumor. The peptide conjugated-micelle may offer a promising platform to develop macrophage-targeting drug delivery systems.

Free Research Field

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