Encapsulated Arsenic Drugs

Arsenic Encapsulation and Triggered Release for Cancer Treatment NU 2005-053 Inventors Haimei Chen Thomas O'Halloran* Abstract Despite a long history and excellent therapy record, arsenic compounds have a variety of widely appreciated toxic side effects that currently limit their application. Northwestern researchers have invented novel procedures and compositions for the encapsulation and delivery of arsenic drugs. The developments include a novel procedure for encapsulating arsenic compounds in liposomes, allowing greater exploitation of the arsenic's beneficial characteristics while reducing its toxicity. The encapsulated compounds can also be targeted to a particular diseased tissue by coupling the liposome with an antibody to a cell-specific antigen. Furthermore, the liposomes are able to maintain encapsulation over long periods of time. These developments make the encapsulation procedure a realistic improvement for arsenic therapy in patients. Applications o Drug Delivery: Arsenic therapy Advantages o Efficient drug loading into liposomes o Ability to control rate of drug release o High retention of compound within liposome o Cell-specific targeting Publications Chen H, MacDonald RC, Li S, Krett NL, Rosen ST, O'Halloran TV (2006) Lipid encapsulation of arsenic trioxide attenuates cytotoxicity and allows for controlled anticancer drug release. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 128: 13348-9. IP Status Issued US Patent No. 8,246,983 Marketing Contact Michael Moore, PhD Invention Manager (p) (847) 491-4645 (e) [email protected]