Collaboration/Licence Opportunity Size and Permeability Selective Encapsulation and Delivery of

BACKGROUND Although there is considerable research being carried out in the area of hollow sub-micron constructs for the purposes of encapsulation of useful therapeutic entities, most of the processes developed to date for the preparation of such constructs are incompatible with maintaining the functionality of sensitive biomolecule payloads. In addition in many clinical conditions it would be useful to be able to deliver and maintain biological activity of the therapeutic agent proximal to the target without exposing that agent to immune system mediators or proteolytic enzymes It would also be useful to be able to control the entry and exit of preferred substrates and products to and from the construct such that a degree of control and selectivity could be applied to the treatment process THE TECHNOLOGY Researchers in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Manchester have developed a system for the encapsulation of sensitive bioactive compounds. This is achieved through the synthesis of hollow, sub-micron, spherical capsules made of organic cross-linked polymers in a hydrogel state. The number of cross linkages formed during polymerisation can be controlled such that the size of the pores in the hydrogel is defined. In addition the components of the hydrogel layer can be modified to selectively alter its permeability. KEY BENEFITS
• The capacity to encapsulate and maintain the functionality of payload biomolecules or cells
• Controllable pore size to allow selective entry of substrate and exit of product Protection of payload from immune response or proteolytic activities
• Controllable hydrogel composition to offer selective substrate permeability
• ‘Stealth’ composition of the hydrogel to protect them from phagocytosis and nonspecific uptake
• Nanoparticle size to provide optimal colloidal fluid dynamics (e.g., natural aggregation in inflamed or tumour sites)
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS/APPLICATION AREAS
• Biopharmaceutical delivery
• Whole cell encapsulation and transport
• Site specific localised conversion of pro-drugs PATENT STATUS Patents are pending in all the key market territories. COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITY The University of Manchester Intellectual Property Limited is open to all forms of collaboration from licensing to research development programmes. FURTHER INFORMATION If you feel that this technology could be beneficial to your company, we would be delighted to hear from you. Detailed confidential information can be released to interested parties under the terms of our standard confidential disclosure agreement. CONTACT Dr Conor Mulrooney, UMIP, The Incubator Building, 48 Grafton Street, Manchester, M13 9XX Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 161 606 7297

Type of Offer: Licensing



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