	US 12,303,555 B2
	Targeting of melanocytes for delivering therapeutic or diagnostic agents using protein nanocages
Sierin Lim, Singapore (SG); Sathyamoorthy Bhaskar, Singapore (SG); Steven Thng, Singapore (SG); Ambili Kuniyil, Singapore (SG); and Sarker Mridul, Singapore (SG)
Assigned to NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, Singapore (SG); and NATIONAL SKIN CENTER (S) PTE LTD, Singapore (SG)
Filed by NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, Singapore (SG); and NATIONAL SKIN CENTER (S) PTE LTD, Singapore (SG)
Filed on Nov. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/525,804.
Application 17/525,804 is a continuation of application No. 15/514,134, granted, now 11,202,820, issued on Dec. 21, 2021, previously published as PCT/SG2015/050343, filed on Sep. 25, 2015.
Claims priority of application No. 10201406072V (SG), filed on Sep. 25, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0062387 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. A61K 38/34 (2006.01); A61K 9/00 (2006.01); A61K 38/35 (2006.01); A61K 47/10 (2017.01); A61P 17/00 (2006.01); C07K 14/195 (2006.01); C07K 14/32 (2006.01); C07K 14/47 (2006.01); C07K 14/685 (2006.01); C07K 14/69 (2006.01); C07K 14/695 (2006.01); C07K 14/72 (2006.01); B82Y 5/00 (2011.01)

CPC A61K 38/34 (2013.01) [A61K 9/0014 (2013.01); A61K 38/35 (2013.01); A61K 47/10 (2013.01); A61P 17/00 (2018.01); C07K 14/195 (2013.01); C07K 14/32 (2013.01); C07K 14/47 (2013.01); C07K 14/685 (2013.01); C07K 14/69 (2013.01); C07K 14/695 (2013.01); C07K 14/723 (2013.01); B82Y 5/00 (2013.01); C12Y 102/04001 (2013.01)]

11 Claims

1. A protein nanocage comprising a melanocyte-targeting moiety and a skin penetrating and cell permeating (SPACE) moiety, wherein the melanocyte-targeting moiety and the skin penetrating and cell permeating (SPACE) moiety are coupled directly to the exterior surface of the protein nanocage, and wherein

(a) the protein nanocage is composed of protein units selected from the group consisting of Archaeoglobus fulgidus Ferritin (AfFtn) having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, AfFtn-AA protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, Homo sapiens (Human) Ferritin (HsFtn) heavy chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5, and HsFtn light chain having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6, and

(b) the melanocyte-targeting moiety is selected from the group consisting of

(i) α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) peptide,

(ii) β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (β-MSH) peptide,

(iii) γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (γ-MSH) peptide,

(iv) adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) peptide, and

(v) a combination of any two or more of (i) to (iv),

wherein the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, the β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (β-MSH) peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, the γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (γ-MSH) peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9, and the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) peptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10; and

(c) the SPACE moiety is a peptide selected from the group consisting of ACTGSTQHQCG (SEQ ID NO:11), ACHSALTKHCG (SEQ ID NO:12), and ACKTGSHNQCG (SEQ ID NO:13).