The caveolae pumping system provides a tangible active pathway into diseased tissue.
Our Approach
Ideal drug delivery overcomes biological barriers and quickly concentrates the targeted agent inside tissue, resulting in rapid blood clearance and little exposure to other sites. We have discovered a tangible active pathway into diseased tissue to overcome these restrictive barriers. We identified key molecules mediating the function of caveolae, specialized vesicular carriers at the surface of vascular endothelial cells that can act as transcytotic pumps to delivery targeted agents directly into tissue. We have integrated the use of advanced proteomic and imaging technologies to interrogate blood-tissue interfaces in vivo to identify disease-induced targets capable of mediating caveolae trafficking. These unique tissue-specific delivery targets enable antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), small molecules and nanoparticles to penetrate rapidly into diseased tissue, such as tumors and fibrotic lung.
“[C]aveolar targeting could become a valuable approach for delivering therapeutic and imaging agents to particular sites in the body.””
What We've Achieved
- Our proteomic imaging discovery platform can be effective in identifying useful targets and probes for more ideal drug delivery.
- Caveolae can have disease-induced delivery targets for pumping targeted agents inside tissue.
- Antibodies can be used to target caveolae to deliver their attached cargo and penetrate deep inside tissue.
- The caveolae pumping system can be efficient and effective in the vascular endothelium of diseased tissue.