KR-20260063800-A - Lipid nanoparticles for photothermal therapy loaded with photosensitizing proteins and production method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to lipid nanoparticles encapsulated with photosensitive proteins, which can replace conventional radiation therapy with high side effects, and by utilizing biocompatible materials, it is a therapeutic agent and a treatment method that can help in the treatment of cancer by reducing side effects as a therapeutic agent.

Inventors

• 박진원

Assignees

• 서울과학기술대학교 산학협력단

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241031

Claims (5)

1. Lipid nanoparticles for photothermal therapy encapsulated with photosensitive proteins.
2. In claim 1, The above-mentioned photosensitive proteins are Opsin, Rhodopsin, Photopsin, Melanopsin, Phytochrome, Pr (Phytochrome Red), Pfr (Phytochrome Far-Red), Cryptochrome, Channelrhodopsin, Flavoprotein, LOV domain, Pterin-based photoreceptors, Archaeorhodopsin, Archaeorhodopsin-3 (Arch3, Archaeorhodopsin-3), Heliorhodopsin, Protoporphyrin, Porphyrin, Heme, Hypericin, Eosin Y, and Comprising one or more photosensitive proteins selected from the group consisting of benzoporphyrin derivatives (BPDs), Lipid nanoparticles.
3. In claim 1, The above lipid nanoparticles comprise lipids, photosensitive proteins, and target attachment proteins.
4. A method for producing lipid nanoparticles for photothermal therapy encapsulated with a photosensitive protein, comprising the following steps. (a) A step of preparing a photosensitive protein solution by dissolving a photosensitive protein in ultrapure water; (b) a step of preparing a lipid solution by dissolving lipids and target attachment proteins together in an ethanol solvent; (c) a step of stirring the lipid solution prepared in step (b) above; (d) a step of administering the photosensitive protein solution of step (a) to the lipid solution being stirred in step (c); and (e) A step of stirring the solution from step (d) above to produce lipid nanoparticles.
5. A pharmaceutical composition for anticancer purposes comprising lipid nanoparticles of claim 1.

Description

Lipid nanoparticles for photothermal therapy loaded with photosensitizing proteins and production method thereof The present invention relates to lipid nanoparticles for photothermal therapy encapsulated with photosensitive proteins. Specifically, it relates to a material for use as a therapeutic agent by encapsulating photosensitive proteins and therapeutic agents within lipid nanoparticles, in order to utilize photothermal therapy—which previously utilized proteins that react to light and heat to deliver pharmaceutical substances to specific targets in order to induce treatment and alleviation of the target site—more accurately and safely, and a method for producing the same. Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a method used to treat various medical conditions, including cancer, by using specific wavelengths such as electromagnetic waves (infrared wavelengths) to deliver therapeutic agents to a target area, or by directly irradiating the area with infrared wavelengths to induce treatment. In particular, photothermal therapy utilizes a method of attaching or encapsulating proteins or activators that accept light in specific wavelengths, such as photosensitive proteins, into nanostructures to deliver them to a target site. Additionally, by encapsulating therapeutic agents along with these components, the aim is to treat the disease through the release and application of the therapeutic agent following the delivery of the photosensitive proteins to a specific treatment site. Photosensitive proteins are proteins that detect and respond to light, absorbing it to change their structure and state, and there are a wide variety of types. In particular, well-known photosensitive proteins include opsin, rhodopsin, and phytochrome, the physiological activity of which changes in response to specific wavelengths of light. Therefore, they are proteins that can be utilized in various fields such as optogenetics, photosynthesis, and light path control. Nanostructures generally refer to structures having a size of 100 nm or less, which possess diverse optical, electrical, magnetic, and chemical properties depending on their shape and composition. Due to their small size, they possess a relatively large surface area, high sensitivity, and excellent selectivity, making them a widely used technology in various therapeutics, kits, chemistry, and machinery. Recently, nanostructures have been utilized in various bio fields, including biosensors, diagnostic platforms, experimental platforms, and therapeutics. However, since materials such as fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanofibers are commonly used, the potential for their use as therapeutics is somewhat limited compared to other fields due to the side effects and risks associated with their application to the human body. The disease for which the above photothermal therapy is currently most widely used is cancer, as cancer cells are relatively more susceptible to heat than normal cells. Therefore, a photothermal therapeutic agent is administered to the affected area, causing the agent to adhere to the cancerous area. At this time, when light such as a laser is shone from the outside, heat is generated by the photothermal agent, and through a series of processes that kill cancer cells, the cancer is treated. Recently, nanoparticles used for photothermal therapy of cancer cells utilize materials such as gold, iron, and organic polymers to which therapeutic agents or photosensitive proteins are attached, and these treatments are being combined with radiation therapy or infrared therapy. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a lipid nanoparticle for photothermal therapy containing a photosensitive protein of the present invention, wherein a photosensitive protein is encapsulated within a phospholipid bilayer, a protein capable of recognizing a target cell is attached to an external hydrophilic group, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) is attached for stabilization. Figure 2 is a graph showing the increase in cell temperature over time when a specific wavelength is irradiated. The present invention relates to lipid nanoparticles encapsulated with photosensitive proteins, which minimize the side effects of conventional radiation therapy and utilize biocompatible materials to provide a highly stable anticancer therapeutic agent and a method for producing the same. As one embodiment of the invention, the lipid nanoparticles encapsulated with the photosensitive protein may be lipid nanoparticles for photothermal therapy. However, the lipid nanoparticles of the present invention are not limited thereto. As an embodiment of the invention, the photosensitive protein is opsin, rhodopsin, photopsin, melanopsin, phytochrome, Pr (Phytochrome Red), Pfr (Phytochrome Far-Red), cryptochrome, channelrhodopsin, flavoprotein, LOV domain, pterin-based photoreceptors, archaeorhodopsin, archaeorhodopsin-3 (Arch3, Archaeorhodopsin-3), heliorhodopsin, protoporphyrin, porphyrin, heme, hypericin, eosin Y It may