The Need

In the rapidly evolving field of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, there is a critical need for efficient delivery mechanisms to transport therapeutic agents directly into cells. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) initially were considered a potential solution. Short sequences of amino acids (typically 5-30) that can traverse the eukaryotic cell membrane, CPPs are capable of enabling intracellular delivery of otherwise membrane-impermeable cargoes. However, poor metabolic stability and low cytosolic entry are key short-comings that hinder the therapeutic viability of CPPs as a delivery method for therapeutic compounds.

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The Technologies

Overcoming these hurdles, our portfolio of CPPs feature a cyclic structure, which confers higher resistance to proteolytic degradation and improved cytosolic entry compared to their linear counterparts. The cyclic structure also increases membrane-binding affinity and optimizes the peptides' structural rigidity. Moreover, our portfolio of cyclic CPPs ranges from cationic charges of 2+ to 6+, allowing for versatility depending on what therapeutic needs or compound being delivered.

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Benefits/Advantages

• High Efficiency: Cyclic CPPs show significantly improved cytosolic entry efficiency compared to linear peptides.
• Stability: Enhanced resistance to proteolytic degradation ensures prolonged activity and stability in vivo.
• Versatility: Capable of delivering a wide range of cargoes, including peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, and nanoparticles.
• Innovative Mechanism: Utilizes a unique vesicle budding-and-collapse mechanism for efficient endosomal escape, ensuring effective delivery into the cell's interior.

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Commercial Applications

• Platform for therapeutic applications that require targeted intracellular delivery of peptides or nucleic acids.
• Transport of nanoparticles for diagnostic purposes
• Enhancing the efficacy of existing pharmaceutical compounds by improving cellular uptake