Blog

Homing peptides for systemic targeting: discovery and applications in cancer and beyond

Speaker: Dr. Tambet Teesalu
Institution: Laboratory of Precision and Nanomedicine, University of Tartu, Estonia

Place: Jerónimo Forteza conference room, CIPF

Abstract: Our laboratory employs in vivo phage display screens to identify homing peptides binding to specific targets in the vasculature. These peptides can be used for precision delivery of drugs, biologicals, and nanoparticles into tumors to enhance their therapeutic efficacy. I will outline current approaches to mapping vascular heterogeneity using in vivo peptide phage display, as well as characterization and validation workflow for candidate vascular homing peptides. Additionally, I will offer a translational perspective by describing the clinical development status of the prototypic tumor-penetrating peptide, iRGD. Lastly, I will present our unpublished data on blood-brain-barrier targeting peptides, which have the potential to deliver imaging and therapeutic payloads to glioblastoma and other neurological diseases. This innovative research could help to overcome the significant challenges associated with delivering therapeutic agents to the brain and has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of these devastating conditions.

Keywords:  tumor homing peptide, iRGD, Neuropilin, phage display, nanomedicine