Science & Technology (Commonwealth Union) – In recent years nanoparticles have shown great promise in various fields of science from medicine to quantum mechanics.
A recent research paper appearing in Nature Nanotechnology presents a major advance in nanoparticle technology, led by University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Chair Professor of Nanomedicine Bingyang Shi.
The study outlines an innovative nanoparticle-based approach which has been formed to take away harmful, disease-causing proteins in the body. The key findining represents a significant move in targeting so-called “undruggable” proteins, setting a new path for treating conditions such as dementia and brain cancer. Studies in on prior occasions have highlighted potential use of nanoparticles in wound healing.
The study was headed by Chair Professor Bingyang Shi of the UTS, in collaboration with Professor Kam Leong of Columbia University and Professor Meng Zheng of Henan University.
Professor Shi indicated that proteins play a vital role in almost every biological process, but when they are mutated, misfolded, produced in excess, or accumulate in inappropriate locations, they can interfere with normal cellular functions and lead to disease.
“Many conditions, including cancer, dementia and autoimmune disorders, are driven by abnormal proteins, and some have shapes or behaviours that make them particularly resistant to drug treatments.”
The team created an innovative type of engineered nanoparticle called nanoparticle-mediated targeting chimeras (NPTACs). The microscopic structures can be custom made to hold onto specific proteins associated with disease and bring about their breakdown.
The Nature Nanotechnology paper, Nanoparticle-mediated targeting chimeras transform targeted protein degradation, explores the breakthrough technology and its possible uses. The original discovery was first reported in Nature Nanotechnology in October 2024.
Professor Shi indicated that they have introduced a versatile and highly effective approach that directs harmful proteins—both inside and outside cells—into the body’s own recycling pathways, allowing them to be safely dismantled and eliminated.
Targeted protein degradation is among the most rapidly expanding fields in biotechnology and carries significant commercial promise. Major players such as Arvinas have secured more than $1 billion in funding and entered multi-billion-dollar collaborations with pharmaceutical giants including Pfizer, Bayer, and Roche.
Researchers of the study indicated however, that conventional targeted protein degradation tools have restrictions due to weaker tissue penetration, off-target effects, together with synthetic complexity – issues that have been an obstacle to applications in areas that include brain disease and solid tumors.
Professor Shi indicated that their nanoparticle-based strategy takes away these obstacles.
The new technology offers several major advantages, including the ability to degrade both intra- and extracellular proteins and to precisely target tissues and diseases, even across the blood–brain barrier. Its plug-and-play modular design allows rapid adaptation to a wide range of protein targets, while its scalable and clinically translatable approach builds on FDA-approved nanomaterials and industry-proven strategies. The platform also supports multifunctional integration, enabling it to be combined with diagnostic or therapeutic capabilities. Protected by multiple international patents, NPTACs have already demonstrated strong preclinical efficacy against critical disease targets such as EGFR, which is often responsible for driving tumour growth, and PD-L1, a key protein that enables cancer cells to evade the immune system.
Professor Shi indicated that this progress sets the path for applications in oncology, neurology and immunology and it alters the way we perceive nanoparticles – not just as delivery tools but as active therapeutic agents as well.
“With the targeted protein degradation market expected to surpass $10 billion USD by 2030, NPTACs provide a powerful platform for the next generation of smart, precision therapies.
He further indicated that they are at present on the lookout for strategic industry partners who can speed up clinical development, license applications across therapeutic fields, and make it ready for regulatory approval.
