Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K19/00—Hybrid peptides, i.e. peptides covalently bound to nucleic acids, or non-covalently bound protein-protein complexes
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • C07K14/46—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates
  • C07K14/47—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals
  • C07K14/4701—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from vertebrates from mammals not used
  • C07K14/4748—Tumour specific antigens; Tumour rejection antigen precursors [TRAP], e.g. MAGE
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K39/0005—Vertebrate antigens
  • A61K39/0011—Cancer antigens
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
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  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
  • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
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  • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
  • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
  • A61K47/69—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit
  • A61K47/6921—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a particulate, a powder, an adsorbate, a bead or a sphere
  • A61K47/6927—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a particulate, a powder, an adsorbate, a bead or a sphere the form being a solid microparticle having no hollow or gas-filled cores
  • A61K47/6929—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a particulate, a powder, an adsorbate, a bead or a sphere the form being a solid microparticle having no hollow or gas-filled cores the form being a nanoparticle, e.g. an immuno-nanoparticle
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/04—Antibacterial agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/12—Antivirals
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P31/00—Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
  • A61P31/12—Antivirals
  • A61P31/20—Antivirals for DNA viruses
  • A61P31/22—Antivirals for DNA viruses for herpes viruses
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P33/00—Antiparasitic agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P37/00—Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
  • A61P37/02—Immunomodulators
  • A61P37/04—Immunostimulants
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
  • B82B—NANOSTRUCTURES FORMED BY MANIPULATION OF INDIVIDUAL ATOMS, MOLECULES, OR LIMITED COLLECTIONS OF ATOMS OR MOLECULES AS DISCRETE UNITS; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT THEREOF
  • B82B3/00—Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures by manipulation of individual atoms or molecules, or limited collections of atoms or molecules as discrete units
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K7/00—Peptides having 5 to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K7/04—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links
  • C07K7/06—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links having 5 to 11 amino acids
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/555—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by a specific combination antigen/adjuvant
  • A61K2039/55511—Organic adjuvants
  • A61K2039/55516—Proteins; Peptides
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/57—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the type of response, e.g. Th1, Th2
  • A61K2039/572—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the type of response, e.g. Th1, Th2 cytotoxic response
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/60—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characteristics by the carrier linked to the antigen
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/62—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the link between antigen and carrier
  • A61K2039/627—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the link between antigen and carrier characterised by the linker
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
  • A61K38/16—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • A61K38/17—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • A61K38/38—Albumins
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K47/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient
  • A61K47/50—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates
  • A61K47/69—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit
  • A61K47/6921—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a particulate, a powder, an adsorbate, a bead or a sphere
  • A61K47/6923—Medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients used, e.g. carriers or inert additives; Targeting or modifying agents chemically bound to the active ingredient the non-active ingredient being chemically bound to the active ingredient, e.g. polymer-drug conjugates the conjugate being characterised by physical or galenical forms, e.g. emulsion, particle, inclusion complex, stent or kit the form being a particulate, a powder, an adsorbate, a bead or a sphere the form being an inorganic particle, e.g. ceramic particles, silica particles, ferrite or synsorb
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • C07K14/76—Albumins
  • C07K14/77—Ovalbumin
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K7/00—Peptides having 5 to 20 amino acids in a fully defined sequence; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K7/04—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links
  • C07K7/08—Linear peptides containing only normal peptide links having 12 to 20 amino acids

Definitions

• the present invention relates to substances and compositions useful in intracellular peptide delivery, in particular nanoparticle- mediated delivery of peptides.
• the invention relates to intracellular delivery of epitopic peptides, e.g., to induce a T cell response.
• Intracellular peptide delivery may be employed for therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of, in particular, tumours and/or pathogen-mediated disease, such as bacterial, viral or parasite infection.
• An example of this is the need to deliver antigen peptides to the antigen processing machinery such that the peptides are presented bound to a class I MHC molecule and thereby stimulate a CTL response.
• Other examples include delivery of peptide-based drugs to intracellular drug targets. In particular, free peptides often display poor uptake by cells .
• a vector such as a viral vector
• a polynucleotide that encodes the peptide of choice
• the peptide is produced by the cellular translational machinery.
• WO 2006/037979 describes nanoparticles comprising antigens and adjuvants, and immunogenic structures comprising the nanoparticles.
• the present invention relates to nanoparticle-based intracellular delivery of peptides.
• the present inventors have found that the nanoparticles of the invention, described herein, which have a corona including a peptide of choice that is covalently attached to the core of the nanoparticle via particular linkers, are capable of being taken up by cells and thereby delivering the peptide of choice to an intracellular target.
• the peptide of choice may then be released from the nanoparticle, e.g. by specific cleavage processes, so as to free the peptide of choice for interaction with an intracellular target.
• This is the delivery of an epitopic peptide to an APC for processing and presentation via a class I MHC molecule such that a CTL response may be generated.
• the present invention provides a nanoparticle comprising:
• a corona comprising a plurality of ligands covalently linked to the core, wherein at least a first ligand of said
• Xi is an amino acid selected from A and G; X 2 is an amino acid selected from A and G; and Z i is an amino acid selected from Y and F .
• the non- peptide portion of the second linker comprises C2-C15 alkyl and/or C2-C15 glycol, for example a thioethyl group or a thiopropyl group.
• the first ligand and/or said second ligand are covalently linked to the core via a sulphur-containing group, an amino-containing group, a phosphate-containing group or an oxygen-containing group.
• said peptide portion of said second linker comprises or consists of an amino acid sequence selected from:
• the peptide of choice is linked via its N-terminus to said peptide portion of said second linker.
• said second ligand is selected from the group consisting of:
• Lymphocyte (CTL) response The Lymphocyte (CTL) response.
• the peptide of choice forms at least a portion of or is derived from a Tumour- Associated Antigen (TAA) or a viral-, bacterial-, or parasite- associated antigen.
• TAA Tumour- Associated Antigen
• the TAA may be a lung cancer antigen.
• the lung cancer may in some cases be selected from: small- cell lung carcinoma and any non-small-cell lung carcinoma,
• non-small-cell lung carcinoma comprises an adenocarcinoma.
• the pathogen-associated antigen may in some cases be a viral, bacterial or parasite antigen.
• said plurality of ligands comprises one or more ligands selected from the group consisting of: glucose, N-acetylglucosamine and glutathione, in addition to the one or more ligands comprising said peptide of choice .
• said plurality of ligands comprises:
• nanoparticle comprises at least 1, at least 2, at least 3, at least 4 or at least 5 peptide-containing ligands.
• the molar ratio of carbohydrate-containing ligands and/or glutathione ligands to peptide-containing ligands is in the range 5:1 to 100:1, such as in the range 10:1 to 30:1.
• the diameter of the core of the nanoparticle is in the range 1 nm to 5 nm.
• the diameter the nanoparticle ineluding its ligands is in the range 5 nm to 20 optionally 5 nm to 15 nm or 8 nm to 10 nm
• the core comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of: Au, Ag, Cu, Pt, Pd, Fe, Co, Gd and Zn, or any combination thereof.
• the core is magnetic .
• the core is capable of acting as a quantum dot.
• nanoparticle comprises at least wo peptide of choice-containing ligands, and wherein the peptide of choice of each of the at least two peptide of choice-containing ligands differ.
• the peptides of choice of said at least two peptide of choice-containing ligands each form at least a portion of or are each derived from one or more antigens, such as TAAs . In some cases in accordance with the present invention the peptides of choice of said at least two peptide of choice-containing ligands each form at least a portion of or are each derived from a different lung cancer TAA.
• the present invention rovides a composition comprising a plurality of nanoparticles in ccordance with the first aspect of the invention.
• the composition may further comprise at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, salt and/or diluent.
• nanoparticle each species having a different peptide of choice.
• the present invention provides a nanoparticle, composition or vaccine of the invention, for use in medicine.
• the nanoparticle, composition or vaccine may be for use in a method of treatment of a cancer or a pathogen infection in a mammalian subj ect .
• the present invention provides use of a nanoparticle, composition or vaccine of the invention in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a cancer or a pathogen infection in a mammalian subject.
• the nanoparticle , composition or vaccine of the invention may be for administration via lymphatic uptake.
• nanoparticle, composition or vaccine is administered via a route selected from the group consisting of:
• the APC is cultured in the presence of said nanoparticle, and, simultaneously or sequentially, co-cultured with said CTL cell.
• the APC may be subjected to a washing step after being contacted with the nanoparticle before being co-cultured with said CTL cell.
• the method may further comprise administering the CTL cell to a mammalian subject.
• nanoparticle may be delivered by a route of administration selected from the group consisting of:
• said at least one nanoparticle comprises a pool of nanoparticles having different peptides of choice.
• the present invention provides a method of producing a nanoparticle according of the invention, comprising: derivatising the carbohydrate with the first linker;
• the reaction mixture comprises the derivatised carbohydrate, the derivatised peptide of choice, a salt of the metal and/or semiconductor atoms and a reducing agent to produce the
• the method may further comprise the step of formulating the nanoparticle into a composition with at least one
• the method is for attaching said peptide of choice via said second linker to said nanoparticle such that the nanoparticle with the peptide of choice attached is capable of being internalised by a cell.
• the method is for attaching said peptide of choice via said second linker to said nanoparticle such that the nanoparticle with the peptide of choice attached is capable of being internalised by an antigen presenting cell (APC) .
• APC antigen presenting cell
• the present invention provides a method for intracellular delivery of a peptide of choice, comprising contacting a cell with a nanoparticle or composition of the invention.
• the present invention provides a use of a nanoparticle or composition of the invention for the intracellular delivery of the peptide of choice.
• Figure 1 shows SIINFEKL (SEQ ID NO: 2) presentation from GNP : LKb cells were seeded into 24-well plates and allowed to adhere
• FIG. 2 GNP presentation compared to free peptide presentation:
• A—B GNPs 8 and 9 were separated by Sephadex column into 15 fractions, which were then analyzed by UV absorption for protein levels.
• the red line (indicated by circles) in figure 2A represents free peptide alone.
• C—H LKb cells were pulsed for 2hrs with noted GNPs or corresponding free peptide at the noted concentration
• SIINFEKL SEQ ID NO: 2
• Red portions of the histogram represent positive staining as compared to unpulsed cells.
• Figure 3 GNP presentation from preparations lacking free peptide:
• C—E,F LKb cells were pulsed for 2hrs with noted previous preparations of GNPs (old GNP) or newer preparations from (A and B) (new GNP) at the noted concentrations (lug/mL peptide (Green), or O.lug/mL (Red)) . Readouts are by (C-E) flow cytometry or (F) B3Z assay. Detailed description of the invention
• nanoparticle refers to a particle having a nanomeric scale, and is not intended to convey any specific shape limitation.
• nanoparticle encompasses nanospheres, nanotubes, nanoboxes, nanoclusters , nanorods and the like.
• the nanoparticles and/or nanoparticle cores contemplated herein have a generally polyhedral or spherical geometry .
• Nanoparticles comprising a plurality of carbohydrate-containing ligands have been described in, for example, WO 2002/032404, WO 2004/108165, WO 2005/116226, WO 2006/037979, WO 2007/015105, WO
• nanoparticles/nanoparticle cores are specifically contemplated for use as nanoparticles/nanoparticle cores in
• corona refers to a layer or coating, which may partially or completely cover the exposed surface of the
• the corona includes a plurality of ligands which include at least one carbohydrate moiety, one surfactant moiety and/or one glutathione moiety.
• the corona may be considered to be an organic layer that surrounds or partially surrounds the metallic core.
• the corona provides and/or participates in passivating the core of the nanoparticle.
• the corona may include a sufficiently complete coating layer substantially to stabilise the metal-containing core.
• Nanoparticles are small particles, e.g. clusters of metal or semiconductor atoms, that can be used as a substrate for
• the nanoparticles have cores having mean diameters between 0.5 and 50nm, more preferably between 0.5 and lOnm, more preferably between 0.5 and 5nm, more preferably between 0.5 and 3nm and still more preferably between 0.5 and 2.5nm.
• the overall mean diameter of the particles is between 5.0 and lOOnm, more preferably between 5 and 50nm and most preferably between 5 and lOnm.
• the mean diameter can be measured using techniques well known in the art such as transmission electron microscopy.
• the core material can be a metal or semiconductor and may be formed of more than one type of atom.
• the core material is a metal selected from Au, Fe or Cu .
• Nanoparticle cores may also be formed from alloys including Au/Fe, Au/Cu, Au/Gd, Au/Fe/Cu, Au/Fe/Gd and Au/Fe/Cu/Gd, and may be used in the present invention.
• Preferred core materials are Au and Fe, with the most preferred material being Au.
• the cores of the nanoparticles preferably comprise between about 100 and 500 atoms (e.g. gold atoms) to provide core diameters in the nanometre range.
• Other particularly useful core materials are doped with one or more atoms that are NMR active, allowing the nanoparticles to be detected using NMR, both in vitro and in vivo.
• NMR active atoms include Mn +2 , Gd +3 , Eu +2 , Cu +2 , V +2 , Co +2 , Ni +2 , Fe +2 , Fe +3 and lanthanides +3 , or the quantum dots described elsewhere in this application.
• Nanoparticle cores comprising semiconductor atoms can be detected as nanometre scale semiconductor crystals are capable of acting as quantum dots, that is they can absorb light thereby exciting electrons in the materials to higher energy levels, subsequently releasing photons of light at frequencies characteristic of the material.
• An example of a semiconductor core material is cadmium selenide, cadmium sulphide, cadmium tellurium.
• the zinc compounds such as zinc sulphide.
• the core of the nanoparticles may be magnetic and comprise magnetic metal atoms, optionally in combination with passive metal atoms.
• the passive metal may be gold, platinum, silver or copper
• the magnetic metal may be iron or gadolinium.
• the passive metal is gold and the magnetic metal is iron.
• the ratio of passive metal atoms to magnetic metal atoms in the core is between about 5:0.1 and about 2:5. More preferably, the ratio is between about 5:0.1 and about 5:1.
• the term "passive metals" refers to metals which do not show magnetic properties and are chemically stable to oxidation.
• the passive metals may be diamagnetic or superparamagnetic.
• such nanoparticles are superparamagnetic.
• nanoparticles which have cores comprising a paramagnetic metal include those comprising Mn +2 , Gd +3 , Eu +2 , Cu +2 , V +2 , Co +2 , Ni +2 , Fe +2 , Fe +3 and lanthanides +3 .
• labels include a label which is a fluorescent group, a radionuclide, a magnetic label or a dye.
• Fluorescent groups include fluorescein, rhodamine or tetramethyl rhodamine, Texas-Red, Cy3, Cy5, etc., and may be detected by excitation of the fluorescent label and detection of the emitted light using Raman scattering spectroscopy (Y.C. Cao, R. Jin, C. A. Mirkin, Science 2002, 297: 1536-1539).
• the nanoparticles may comprise a label which is a fluorescent group, a radionuclide, a magnetic label or a dye.
• Fluorescent groups include fluorescein, rhodamine or tetramethyl rhodamine, Texas-Red, Cy3, Cy5, etc.
• radionuclide for use in detecting the nanoparticle using the radioactivity emitted by the radionuclide, e.g. by using PET, SPECT, or for therapy, i.e. for killing target cells.
• radionuclides commonly used in the art that could be readily adapted for use in the present invention include 99m Tc, which exists in a variety of oxidation states although the most stable is TcO 4" ; 32 P or 33 P; 57 Co; 59 Fe; 67 Cu which is often used as Cu 2+ salts; 67 Ga which is commonly used a Ga 3+ salt, e.g.
• a further method of detecting metal particles is to employ plasmon resonance that is the excitation of electrons at the surface of a metal, usually caused by optical radiation.
• the phenomenon of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) exists at the interface of a metal (such as Ag or Au) and a dielectric material such as air or water. As changes in SPR occur as analytes bind to the ligand immobilised on the surface of a nanoparticle changing the refractive index of the interface.
• SPR surface plasmon resonance
• a further advantage of SPR is that it can be used to monitor real time interactions. As mentioned above, if the
• nanoparticles include or are doped with atoms which are NMR active, then this technique can be used to detect the particles, both in vitro or in vivo, using techniques well known in the art.
• the nanoparticle of the present invention comprises a peptide- containing ligand ("said second ligand") that is covalently linked to the core of the nanoparticle via a linker ("said second linker”) .
• the second ligand comprises a peptide that may be intended for intracellular delivery.
• This "peptide of choice” may be any suitable peptide.
• the peptide may be a fragment of a larger polypeptide that is able to exert an effect when delivered to an intracellular site.
• the peptide of choice may be a peptide-based drug.
• the peptide of choice may comprise an epitope (an "epitopic peptide") that gives rise to an immune response when delivered to, for example, an intracellular compartment of an APC .
• the peptide of choice may be a peptide that binds to a class I Major
• the Histocompatibility Complex molecule or is capable of being processed so as to bind to a class I MHC molecule.
• the peptide of choice may consist of a sequence of 8 to 40 amino acid residues, such as a sequence of 8 to 12 amino acid residues.
• the peptide of choice may be capable of being presented by a class I MHC molecule so as to stimulate a Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte (CTL) response.
• CTL Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte
• Such epitopic peptides may form at least a portion of, or be derived from, a Tumour-Associated Antigen (TAA) or a pathogen-associated antigen (e.g. a viral, bacterial or parasite antigen) .
• TAA Tumour-Associated Antigen
• pathogen-associated antigen e.g. a viral, bacterial or parasite antigen
• the peptide of choice may be a peptide drug, such as a peptide that targets an intracellular target.
• a peptide drug such as a peptide that targets an intracellular target.
• intracellular targeting peptide is the GIPC-PDZ domain inhibitor described in Muders et al . , 2009, Clin Cancer Res, Vol. 15(12), pp. 4095-4103 (the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference) .
• Parenteral administration includes administration by the following routes: intravenous, cutaneous or subcutaneous, nasal, intramuscular, intraocular, transepithelial , intraperitoneal and topical (including dermal, ocular, rectal, nasal, inhalation and aerosol), and rectal systemic routes .
• the nanoparticles can then be taken up, e.g. by dendritic cells, which mature as they migrate through the lymphatic system, resulting in modulation of the immune response and vaccination against the epitopic peptide and/or the antigen from which the epitopic peptide was derived or of which it forms a part.
• the nanoparticles may also be delivered in aerosols. This is made possible by the small size of the nanoparticles.
• the exceptionally small size of the nanoparticles of the present invention is a great advantage for delivery to cells and tissues, as they can be taken up by cells even when linked to targeting or therapeutic molecules.
• the nanoparticles may be internalised by cells such as APCs, the peptides processed and released, e.g. for presentation via class I MHC or for interaction with intracellular components .
• nanoparticles of the invention may be formulated as
• compositions that may be in the forms of solid or liquid compositions.
• Such compositions will generally comprise a carrier of some sort, for example a solid carrier such as gelatine or an adjuvant or an inert diluent, or a liquid carrier such as water, petroleum, animal or vegetable oils, mineral oil or synthetic oil.
• a carrier of some sort for example a solid carrier such as gelatine or an adjuvant or an inert diluent, or a liquid carrier such as water, petroleum, animal or vegetable oils, mineral oil or synthetic oil.
• Physiological saline solution, or glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol may be included.
• compositions and preparations generally contain at least 0. lwt% of the compound.
• the active ingredient will be in the form of a parenterally acceptable aqueous solution which is pyrogen-free and has suitable pH, isotonicity and stability.
• a parenterally acceptable aqueous solution which is pyrogen-free and has suitable pH, isotonicity and stability.
• suitable solutions using, for example, solutions of the compounds or a derivative thereof, e.g. in physiological saline, a dispersion prepared with glycerol, liquid polyethylene glycol or oils.
• compositions can comprise one or more of a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, buffer, stabiliser, isotonicising agent, preservative or anti-oxidant or other materials well known to those skilled in the art. Such materials should be non-toxic and should not interfere with the efficacy of the active ingredient.
• a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient such materials should be non-toxic and should not interfere with the efficacy of the active ingredient.
• carrier or other material may depend on the route of
• administration e.g. orally or parenterally .
• Liquid pharmaceutical compositions are typically formulated to have a pH between about 3.0 and 9.0, more preferably between about 4.5 and 8.5 and still more preferably between about 5.0 and 8.0.
• the pH of a composition can be maintained by the use of a buffer such as acetate, citrate, phosphate, succinate, Tris or histidine, typically employed in the range from about 1 mM to 50 mM.
• a buffer such as acetate, citrate, phosphate, succinate, Tris or histidine
• compositions and allowing multiple use packaging examples include phenol, meta-cresol, benzyl alcohol, para- hydroxybenzoic acid and its esters, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, benzalconium chloride and benzethonium chloride.
• Preservatives are typically employed in the range of about 0.1 to 1.0 % (w/v) .
• compositions are preferably administered to patients in dosages of between about 0.01 and lOOmg of active compound per kg of body weight, and more preferably between about 0.5 and lOmg/kg of body weight .
• treatment includes any measure taken by the physician to alleviate the effect of the tumour on a patient.
• effective treatment will also include any measures capable of achieving partial
• Such measures can be effective in prolonging and/or enhancing the quality of life and relieving the symptoms of the disease.
• the term "vaccination” means an active immunization, that is an induction of a specific immune response due to administration, e.g. via the subcutaneous, intradermal,
• erapeutic or prophylactic it might possible to achieve a prophylactic protection against the breakout of a cancer disease by vaccination of individuals who do not suffer from cancer.
• individuals for whom such a prophylactic vaccination might be applied are individuals who have an increased risk of developing a cancer disease, although this application is not limited to such individuals.
• Patients being at risk of cancer can already have developed tumours, either as primary tumours or metastases, or show predisposition for cancer.
• compositions which, by way of example, may further comprise auxiliary substances, buffers, salts and/or preserving agents.
• the pharmaceutical preparations may, e.g., be used for the prophylaxis and therapy of cancer-associated
• antigen-presenting cells are specifically modulated in vivo or also ex vivo so as to generate the immune response against the TAAs .
• a vaccine formulation which contains the immunogen - be it a natural TAA or its epitope, mimic or neoepitope mimic, - mostly at low concentrations, e.g. in an immunogenic amount ranging from 0.01 ⁇ g to 10 mg, yet the dosage range can be increased up a range of 100 to 500mg.
• the suitable immunogenic dose can be chosen e.g.
• a depot vaccine which is to be delivered to the organism over an extended period of time may, however, also contain much higher amounts of vaccination antigen, e.g. at least 1 mg to more than 100 mg. The concentration will depend on the amount of liquid or suspended vaccine administered.
• a vaccine usually is provided in ready-to-use syringes or ampoules having a volume ranging from 0.01 to 1 ml, preferably 0.1 to 0.75 ml.
• the vaccination antigen of a component of vaccine preferably is presented in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier which is suitable for subcutaneous, intramuscular and also intradermal or transdermal administration.
• a further mode of administration functions via the mucosal pathway, e.g. vaccination by nasal or peroral
• the vaccine is presented as a solution or a liquid vaccine in an aqueous solvent.
• vaccination units of a tumour vaccine are already provided in a suitable ready-to-use syringe or ampoule.
• a stable formulation of the vaccine may advantageously be put on the market in a ready to use form.
• a content of preserving agents such as thimerosal or other preserving agents with an improved tolerability, is not necessarily required, yet it may be provided in the formulation for a longer stability at storage temperatures of from refrigerating temperatures up to room temperature.
• the vaccine according to the invention may, however, also be provided in frozen or lyophilized form and may be thawed or reconstituted,
• the immunogenicity of the vaccine of the invention may be increased by by employing adjuvants.
• adjuvants solid substances or liquid vaccine adjuvants are used, e.g. aluminum hydroxide (Alu-Gel) or aluminum phosphate, growth factors, lymphokines, cytokines, such as IL-2, IL-12, GM-CSF, gamma interferon, or complement factors, such as C3d, further liposome preparations, or also formulations with additional antigens against which the immune system has already generated a strong immune response, such as tetanus toxoid, bacterial toxins, such as Pseudomonas exotoxins, and derivatives of lipid A and lipopolysaccharide .
• Test NPs were synthesized using ⁇ Gold Chloride (Aldrich 484385), 30 ⁇ glucose with a thio ethyl linker (GlcC2) and
• 1.5 ⁇ of peptide ligand (variable 1.5-3mg) .
• the following method was used; 1.5 ⁇ 1 ⁇ peptide was dissolved in 2ml methanol, followed by the addition of 30 ⁇ GlcC2 in 200 ⁇ 1 methanol, and 116 ⁇ 1 of aqueous gold chloride containing ⁇ Au .
• the sample was vortexed for 30sec, shaken for approximately 5min and then under rapid vortexing for a total of 30 sec 200 ⁇ 1 of 1M NaBH 4 was added, tubes were sealed and then gently shaken for 1.5h.
• Nanoparticles were removed from the vivaspins and made up to 500 ⁇ 1 with water, they were then subjected to 15Krpm bench spin to remove any large aggregates. Gold content post spin/production by in house assay is shown below 100% yield would be 1.97mg;
• NPs 3,4 and 5 showed large near complete aggregation, addition of DMSO to these aggregates failed to solubilise these particle.
• Ligand ratios used were such that 2 peptides should theoretically be attached to each NP of approximately lOOAu atoms, the data above suggests approximately 6-8 peptides/ lOOAu atoms. This could simple be an artefact of BCA method (and BSA standard) used for peptide measurement of NP bound peptides or perhaps the peptide ligands attach .
• NP's 2-5 were produced by a variation using 75% methanol not 95% in the synthesis stage.
• NP2 produced a 'normal' NP as previously, NPs 3, 4 and 5 as before formed aggregates, these aggregates where not soluble in water, 10% acetic acid, PBS, DMSO or DMF, however 300mM NaOH did result in total NP solubilisation .
• Additional synthesis was carried out using Sephadex G-50 to remove any free peptide.
• Post vivaspin half of each preparation was subjected to a Sephadex G-50 column eluted with PBS, fractions collected and aliquots measured for protein by BCA, tight pools of the main proteinaceous peaks were pooled and then resubjected to vivaspin with water washes to effect solvent change.
• peptide-containmg NPs have been synthesized.
• the peptide NPs are essentially devoid of contaminating free peptides by simple use of Sephadex G-50 gel filtration chromatography.
• T cell receptors are on the surface of T lymphocytes and recognize peptides in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (1) .
• MHC major histocompatibility complex
• APC antigen presenting cells
• MHCII MHC Class II
• MHCI MHC Class I
• MHCII peptides derive from endocytosed components of the extracellular milieu.
• MHCI loads peptides processed from an intracellular source (1, 2) .
• SIINFEKL (SEQ ID NO: 2), a peptide epitope that is derived from ovalbumin (OVA) , is presented in the context of a murine MHCI allele termed H-2K b (3) . If OVA is expressed in a murine cell expressing H- 2K b , SIINFEKL is presented conventionally. However, if OVA is supplied exogenously, SIINFEKL can be presented by an alternative process known as MHCI cross-presentation (4, 5) . In fact, haplotype- matched mouse immunized with OVA generate an immunodominant response to SIINFEKL (SEQ ID NO: 2) .
• the flow cytometry-based method begins with pulsing LK b cells with differing amounts of SIINFEKL peptide. After allowing enough time for peptide binding to surface K b molecules, cells were washed and incubated with the 25.D1.16 antibody which is specific to the S I INFEKL : K b complex.
• the cells were secondarily labelled and subjected to flow cytometry analysis using unpulsed cells as the background reading. It was found that this method detected surface complexes when the cells were pulsed with as little as 5 ng/mL.
• Another form of epitope-specific antigen presentation is the measurement of T cell activation by the MHCI peptide complex.
• B3Z OVA peptide specific T cell line
• SIINFEKL the context of K b .
• this T cell line contains ⁇ -galactosidase cloned with the NFAT promoter.
• ⁇ -galactosidase is expressed and conversion of a detectible substrate serves as an excellent measure of antigen presentation to T cells.
• LK b cells were pulsed with SIINFEKL peptide, washed, and then co-incubated with B3Z T cell line overnight. The next day, cells were lysed and ⁇ -galactosidase was measured using a luminescent substrate. As expected, the resolution of this method was similar to the previous method with the limit of detection at approximately 5 ng/mL .
• LK b cells are mouse fibroblasts and were the primary line used. Specifically, they are L929 cells stably expressing the murine H-2K b molecule .
• Synthetic SIINFEKL (OVA 257-264) (SEQ ID NO: 2) peptides were purchased from Genscript USA (Piscataway, NJ) . Peptides were resuspended to 5mg/mL in DMSO and pulsed onto cells at the
• Kb-specific T hybridoma (B3Z) expresses ⁇ -galactosidase upon recognition of peptide-MHC class I complexes and has been described previously (3, 6) .
• T cell hybridomas were maintained in complete RPMI plus 10% FCS and 0.05 mM 2 -ME. Activation was measured using the luminescent substrate Galactolight Plus (Applied
• SIINFEKL SEQ ID NO: 1
• SIINFEKL SEQ ID NO: 2
• test ligands listed below were constructed and attached to gold nanoparticles (GNP) by the above-described linker chemistry.
• SIINFEKL SEQ ID NO: 2
• SIINFEKL SEQ ID NO: 2
• Angel an epitope derived from ovalbumin that is presented in the context of the murine MHCI molecule H-2Kb
• SIINFEKL/MHCI complex we assessed presentation using the B3Z, SIINFEKL peptide specific CTL hybridoma, which expresses beta-galactosidase under the NFAT (CTL signaling molecule) promoter, which upon activation express beta-gal measured by a light emitting substrate .
• NFAT CTL signaling molecule
• L-Kb murine fibroblasts To assess the ability of cells to process and present SIINFEKL associated with GNP, we used L-Kb murine fibroblasts. As
• cells can take up peptide and process it within the endosome, however, on ice, peptide can only be loaded on the surface without processing. Indeed, we observed that free peptides with linkers generally need processing while the peptide without the linker can be presented (Figs. 2I-N) without any processing.
• SI INFEKL (SEQ ID NO: 2) presentation (peptide portion of the linker shown underlined) .
• HS- (CH2) 10- (CH20CH2) 7-CONH chemistry is better processed than HS (CH2) 2-CONH.
• HS (CH2 ) 2-CONH is also processed very well while being more cost effective.

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