Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Synthesis of anti-cancer vaccines based on novel gold nanoparticles

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Abstract:
Intensive program to develop anti-cancer vaccines based nanoscale particles

Midatech's CSIC team reports a new approach to the synthesis of anti-cancer vaccines based on novel gold nanoparticles

Oxford, UK | June 21, 2005

Scientists from the Laboratory of Glyconanotechnology at the CSIC in Seville, part of the UK-based Midatech Group, have initiated an intensive program to develop anti-cancer vaccines based upon creating immuno-stimulating nanoscale particles with an outer shell bearing specific carbohydrate and peptide antigens.

The team reports (1) (in Tetrahedron: Asymmetry) the successful synthesis of gold nanoparticles featuring covalently bonded, immunogenic oligosaccharides from the Ley determinant, which is associated with various carcinomas including colon, liver, prostate and ovarian.

The methodology ensures the preparation of functional, three-dimensional "glyco-stealth coronas" of immunogenic carbohydrate and peptide ligands on discreet, stable and water-soluble gold nanoparticles. To ensure maximum antigenicity, carbohydrate and peptide epitopes are linked covalently to the gold nanoparticle core by "spacers" of defined length. In this way a high surface density of the antigens is presented on the shell of the gold nanoparticles. Moreover these antigens are in their biologically correct conformation to stimulate antibody production.

The Lewis Y (Le^Y) determinant elicits antibodies against colon and liver carcinomas, and is over expressed in metastatic prostate cancer and in ovarian tumours. The Le^Y neoglycoconjugate synthesised consists of a tetrasaccharide covalently linked to a spacer (5 carbon chain) with a thiol end group. This is then covalently linked to the Au-S core.

The Le^Y-functionalised gold glyconanoparticles synthesized have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The particles are spherical in shape, with a mean diameter of 1.52 nm, from which it can be inferred that the cores contain 116-140 gold atoms.

Describing this important new development, Midatech Chief Operating Officer, Dr David Hill explains, "Of particular significance, is that the Le^Y-functionalised gold glyconanoparticles are very stable and water-soluble. In solution they are dispersed and discreet offering a highly immunogenic polyvalent system yet their microscopically minute dimensions of less than 2 nm means that the particles will be easily excreted by the kidneys.

The Midatech gold glyconanoparticles can be synthesized with specific carbohydrate and peptide moieties corresponding to well-characterised antigens from other cancer associated determinants, and we hope that this ingenious technology will lead to the creation of a range of novel, highly active anti-cancer vaccines in the future. Further studies are underway to evaluate the Le^Y-functionalised gold glyconanoparticles and Midatech will be announcing the results in due course."

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Reference:
Synthesis of a Le^Y neoglycoconjugate and Le^Y-functionalized gold glyconanoparticles. JL de Paz et al. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 16 (2005) 149-158

Notes to Editors:
The Carbohydrate Group in Seville established in 2001 that new well-defined, water soluble, three-dimensional carbohydrate polyvalent models or "nanocells" could be synthesised in the form of gold glyconanoparticles as a means to study biologically valuable carbohydrate interactions. These "nanocells" reproduce the clustering of cell-attached receptors and they can be considered as a useful tool for the rational analysis of carbohydrate interactions and as tools for the development of new techniques for screening diagnosis and therapy.

Midatech Ltd is the UK-based company formed in 2004 to develop the patent-protected technology platform generated by the Carbohydrate Group to focus on potential applications for gold glyconanoparticles in four key areas: imaging, drug delivery, siRNAs and DNA and vaccines - both therapeutic and preventative.

Contact:
Sarah Rogers
Healthcare Solutions
Hyde Lodge, Hyde Lane, Churt, FARNHAM, Surrey, GU10 2LP, UK
Tel: ++(0)1428 604444
sarah@healthcare-pr.co.uk

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