Controlled Release of Drug Cargo using ATP-Responsive Liposomes
The Problem
There is a need for an advancement in the ability to control the release of drug cargo from liposomal nanocarriers to enhance drug potency and enable diseased-cell specificity. Existing liposomal systems face fundamental limitations including inefficient release of drug cargo (less than ~5%), insufficient contrast between diseased and healthy cells, and difficulty in application without damaging healthy tissue.
The Solution
Researchers at the University of Tennessee have developed a novel liposomal delivery platform that exploits ATP — a metabolite that is significantly overabundant in diseased cells relative to healthy tissue — as a highly selective trigger for drug release. The system can be tuned to respond to ATP with specificity over structurally similar molecules, including ADP and other nucleotide triphosphates, enabling precise, disease-driven cargo release.
Benefits
| Benefit |
|---|
| Enhances the delivery of therapeutic payload |
| Selectively targets diseased cells |
| Reduces off-target drug exposure, minimizing damage to healthy cells |
| Tunable selectivity allows the system to be optimized for specific applications and payload types |
| Compatible with established liposomal drug formulation approaches |
More Information
- Rachel Valentine
- Assistant Technology Manager
- 865-974-4492 | rvalen18@tennessee.edu
- UTRF Reference ID: 22008
- Patent Status: US20230068750A1
Innovators
Dr. Michael Best
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Dr. Best received his Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin in 2002, where he worked on the design and synthesis of fluorescent sensors for biomolecules. Dr. Best performed his post-doctoral research at the Scripps Research Institute and then joined UT in 2005. His research interests are in bio-organic, synthetic, medicinal, and supramolecular chemistry.
Dr. Best received his Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin in 2002, where he worked on the design and ...
Dr. Lou Jinchao
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry
Dr. Jinchao received her Ph.D. from The University of Tennessee in 2022 in organic chemistry. Dr. Jinchao then went on to complete her Post-Doc at The University in Tennessee in 2024. Her research interests are in bio-organic chemistry, chemical biology, nanomaterials, drug delivery, and synthetic organic chemistry.
Dr. Jinchao received her Ph.D. from The University of Tennessee in 2022 in organic chemistry. Dr. Jinchao then...
