ANTIFOLATE-CARRYING NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR USE IN MEDICINE
McAteer M., Coulter T., Ding Y., Porter J.
The present invention provides a nanoparticle comprising: a core comprising a metal and/or a semiconductor; and a plurality of ligands covalently linked to the core, wherein said ligands comprise: (i) at least one dilution ligand comprising a carbohydrate, glutathione or an ethylene glycol-containing moiety; and (ii) a ligand of the formula D-L1-Z-L2, wherein D comprises an antifolate drug or folic acid, L1 comprises a first linker portion comprising a C2-C12 glycol and/or C2-C12 alkyl chain, L2 comprises a second linker portion comprising a C2-C12 glycol and/or C2-C12 alkyl chain, wherein L1 and L2 may be the same or different, and wherein Z represents a carbonyl-containing group linking L1 and L2, and wherein L2 is coupled to said core, Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising such nanoparticles, medical uses thereof and methods for producing the nanoparticles.