Multifunctional nanomedicine prototypes acting as prophylactics and virus-assisted targeted drug delivery vehicle (NANOPROV)

Unmet need. Viral infections are a global threat and the source of substantial social and economic burden. There is an increasing trend in the emergence and re-emergence of new viruses with high infectivity and mortality rates. Lessons learned from past pandemics, e.g. the global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, demonstrate that a substantial amount of investment is needed to refine the science and technology to develop new early treatment antivirals. These antivirals should be based on a plug-in technology to be rapidly repurposed for treating the next fast-spreading virus and successfully managing pandemics. Approach and market. Among different technologies, pharmaceuticals based on nanoparticles show a high added value with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 22%. Protein-based nanopharmaceuticals are estimated to have a market size of $ 15 billion. NANOPROV will create novel protein-based prophylactic nanomedicines. The primary target group (> 8 million individuals in the UK alone) will be public servants and immunocompromised patients (e.g. cancer patients) and those requiring primary care.
Innovative solution and background. NANOPROV will use a plug-in nanocage technology we have patented and built upon available data regarding antiviral binding proteins. It creates proof-of-concept efficacious antiviral prophylactic nanocages for early treatment. The plug-in technology can be quickly modified using genetic engineering and repurposed to create prophylactic nanocages against a new rapidly spreading virus. The project will generate the proof of concept product for developing inhalable formulations and preclinical tests. Our plug-in nanocage technology is based on the ubiquitous iron-storage protein of life ferritin. This naturally occurring nanocage protein is biocompatible, safe and stable and has shown an acceptable safety profile for making other therapeutics, such as vaccines.
Team and environment. NANOPROV is a unique collaboration between experts in ferritin nanocages and those in antimicrobial therapeutics working at King's College London and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The Team has extensive experience developing antimicrobial products and collaborates with world-leading experts in inhalation drug delivery, formulation, and manufacturing and with biopharmaceutical companies.

Expected impact. NANOPROV will refine the science and technology for developing early treatment protein-based nanopharmaceuticals. This unique cross-fertilisation of expertise and experience will create prototype antiviral nanomedicines and technological advances for rapid repurposing to counter a fast-spreading new virus. It will generate confidence in using our nanocage technology to develop other nanomedicines, including multivalent mosaic vaccines and multivalent anti-cancer immunotherapeutics.