soloMER™ coated Nanoparticles or sNaPs™ - The development of optimised “escort” molecules for the targeted delivery of nanomedicine, anti-cancer therapeutics

Even though there has been a marked improvement in the outcomes for cancer patients, 35% will still

eventually succumb to the disease. Treatments still require clinicians to balance the administration of anti-

cancer toxins with extreme patient side-effects. Therefore, there remains a significant need for more specific

cancer therapies, providing opportunities for innovative drug development. This proposal combines the power

of proteins call soloMERs™ (produced by the lead organisation Elasmogen Ltd), that can bind specifically to

tumours, with microscopic drug filled (nano)particles (produced by Queen’s University Belfast), to target toxic

payloads directly into cancerous cells, minimising the insult to surrounding healthy tissue. soloMERs™ small

size and robust nature makes them ideal “escort” proteins suitable for joining to and decoration of the surface

of nanoparticles. It is hoped that this approach could deliver 1000 times more drug than competing

technologies with these first sNaPs™ having the potential to be a new platform approach to the treatment of

solid cancer masses.ject Summary