Structure-stabilized DNA origami-based drug and gene delivery

This technology is a side-chain modified peptoid coating that can stabilize DNA nanostructures under physiologically relevant conditions for drug and gene delivery.

Unmet Need: Stable and physiologically relevant methods of drug and gene delivery

Current methods of DNA-based nanoscale drug and gene delivery are limited by structural instability in physiologically relevant pH and ionic conditions and are also susceptible to enzymatic degradation. In addition, nanoformulation delivery carriers can be relatively untargeted and leaky, with poor rate control for drug delivery. Although these properties have been well-studied, modularly charged and application-specific coatings to stabilize the structure of DNA origami for clinical applications are lacking.

The Technology: Peptoid-coated DNA origami carriers for delivery of biomaterials

This technology describes structure-stabilizing peptoid coatings that can be applied to DNA nanostructures for drug and gene delivery in physiologically relevant conditions. Peptoid-coated DNA origami structures minimize undesired drug release during the delivery process, are stable in biological solutions with varied pH and salt concentrations, and are resilient to enzymatic digestion. In addition to DNA-based carriers, the application of this surface coating can be extended for the stabilization of pharmaceutical drugs and other nanoformulation delivery carriers, including liposomes and proteins.

This technology has been validated in vitro in physiologically relevant buffer solutions.

Applications:

• Structural stabilization of DNA nanocarriers
• Targeted drug and gene delivery
• Clinical application of nanoformulation carriers
• Biomedical imaging

Advantages:

• Stabilizing of DNA nanostructures in physiologically relevant conditions
• Self-assembly
• Customizable peptoid side chains to conjugate with molecules
• Charge modularity
• Resistant to enzymatic degradation
• Compatibility with biomolecules (proteins, liposomes, DNA, RNA)

Lead Inventor:

Oleg Gang, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Status

Related Publications:

• Wang ST, Gray MA, Xuan S, Lin Y, Byrnes J, Nguyen AI, Todorova N, Stevens MM, Bertozzi CR, Zuckerman RN, Gang O. “DNA origami protection and molecular interfacing through engineered sequence-defined peptoids” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2020 Mar 3; 117(12): 6339-6348.

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU20002

• Licensing Contact: Greg Maskel