Multifunctional nanodevice platform

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel therapeutic and diagnostic arrays. More particularly, the present invention is directed to dendrimer based multifunctional compositions and systems for use in disease diagnosis and therapy (e.g., cancer diagnosis and therapy). The compositions and systems generally comprise two or more separate components for targeting, imaging, sensing, and / or triggering release of a therapeutic or diagnostic material and monitoring the response to therapy of a cell or tissue (e.g., a tumor).

Description

[0001] The present application is a continuation application of International Application PCT / US01 / 15204, filed May 11, 2001 which designates the United States, which itself is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 09 / 570,198, filed May 12, 2000.[0002] The present invention relates to novel therapeutic and diagnostic systems. More particularly, the present invention is directed to dendrimer based multifunctional compositions and systems for use in disease diagnosis and therapy (e.g., cancer diagnosis and therapy). The compositions and systems generally comprise two or more separate components for targeting, imaging, sensing, and / or triggering release of a therapeutic or diagnostic material and monitoring the response to therapy of a cell or tissue (e.g., a tumor).[0003] New initiatives in chemotherapeutics and radiopharmaceutics have improved the survival of patients with many forms of neoplasm. Several cancers now have five year survival rates greater than 80 pe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0061] The terms "specific binding" or "specifically binding" when used in reference to the interaction of an antibody and a protein or peptide means that the interaction is dependent upon the presence of a particular structure (i.e., the antigenic determinant or epitope) on the protein; in other words the antibody is recognizing and binding to a specific protein structure rather than to proteins in general. For example, if an antibody is specific for epitope "A," the presence of a protein containing epitope A (or free, unlabelled A) in a reaction containing labelled "A" and the antibody will reduce the amount of labelled A bound to the antibody.

[0077] As is clear from the above example, the use of the compositions of the present invention facilitates non-intrusive sensing, signaling, and intervention for cancer. Since specific protocols of molecular alterations in cancer cells are identified using this technique, non-intrusive sensing through the dendritic molecules is achieved and may then be employed automatically against various tumor phenotypes. If the polymer array approach is employed, the targeting, sensing, and therapeutic conjugates are interchanged to address varied tumor types or different pathophysiological alterations. Thus, the array approach provides common, interchangeable therapeutic platforms that transcend any single type of tumor or cellular abnormality.I. Dendrimers

Problems solved by technology

However, despite these successes, many problems still exist concerning cancer therapy.

For example, many common neoplasms, such as colon cancer, respond poorly to available therapies.

In addition, despite the improvements in therapy for many cancers, most currently used therapeutic agents have severe side effects.

These side effects often limit the usefulness of chemotherapeutic agents and result in a significant portion of cancer patients without any therapeutic options Other types of therapeutic initiatives, such as gene therapy or immunotherapy, may prove to be more specific and have fewer side effects than chemotherapy.

However, while showing some progress in a few clinical trials, the practical use of these approaches remains somewhat limited at this time.

Despite these impressive accomplishments, many obstacles still exist before these therapies can be used to treat cancer cells in vivo.

Such steps are time consuming, complex, and expensive.

Although tumor targeting addresses this selectivity issue, it is not adequate, as most tumors do not have unique antigens.

This is crucial since a few remaining cells may result in re-growth, or worse, lead to a tumor that is resistant to therapy.

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