바이오스펙테이터

by Jongwon Jang

Exploited the “Thermotropic Phase Transition Phenomenon” based on “Molten Polymer” to Secure the Original Technology for Nano Platform ... Secured Price Competitiveness via a Simple Process for Mass P

‘Nanoscale Drug Transporter of Ultrafine (10 nm) Size’ features the key characteristics of the nano-scaled drug delivery platform technology of TGelBio.

TGelBio is a ‘Bio-venture’ founded in September 2014 by Professor Im Tae-Hong of the College of Engineering at Iowa State University in the United States of America based on ‘Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogel Technology (PF-72)’.

TGelBio secured the platform technology enabling production of ultrafine nano-scaled drug transporter as a next generation drug-delivery system. It is the original technology exploiting ‘thermotropic phase transition’ based on ‘molten polymer’.

The TGelBio technology involves a combination of the solvent mixture containing the active constituent and non-water-soluble active constituents, and heating the mixture via polymer addition (Poloxamer 188) during liquefaction. The liquified constituents are then homogenized and solidified by cooling down. The nanoscale drug transporter is obtained via dispersion, purification, refrigeration, and drying.

Dr. Oh of TGelBio explained. “… the technologies, currently in progress, are mostly employ the emulsifying process (emulsion method) using the well-known organic solvents…”, “… however, there are no organic solvents in our technology that features the characteristic free from the worries about generating toxicity…”

The nanoscale drug transporters fabricated using such a process exhibit ultrafine (10 nm) features, which differentiate the drug transporter from other nano-sized drug transporters that are several hundred-fold larger in size.

Dr. Oh of TGelBio stated, “… the diagnosis of diverse types of metastatic lymph node, as well as the diagnosis of primary tumor, was facilitated by the use of ultrafine diagnostic/therapeutic nano-sized transporter…” He added, “…the materials, which were excessively dosed or failed to reach the disease targets, were eliminated efficiently from the body through the urinary bladder …”

The original technology of TGelBio is also characterized by the secured price competitiveness that enables mass production through a simplified process. The technology is also characterized by high utility, potential for in vivo delivery of drugs via diverse routes, including intravenous, muscular, ocular, and oral approaches.

TGelBio currently employs the “Smart Tumor Imaging Agent (STIA)”, the nano-sized cancer diagnostic agent, with its “ultrafine nano-sized drug transporter”. STIA enables the direct delivery of the agent to tumors by skipping intravenous injection or oral administration, resulting in improved discrimination of cancer and accurate treatment.

The diagnosis of cancer via endoscopy relies on morphological observation, which is invariably accompanied by a certain level of misdiagnosis. The technology exploiting chromoscopy is of limited specificity in targeting cancer tissues. The endoscopic application of STIA by TGelBio enables accurate targeting of cancers.

TGelBio demonstrated excellent target specificity of STIA by validating its diagnostic capability upon direct application to tumors causing inflammatory colon cancer. Dr. Oh of TGelBio explained, “… we found that the tumor was stained regardless of the type of materials mounted on the nano-sized drug transporter…”

TGelBio is intended for a diverse range of STIA applications clinically based on fundamental studies. The company also anticipates that the higher targetability of STIA for tumors would be exploited in laparotomy or laparoscopic surgery. President Cho Han-won of TGelBio commented, “… we are discussing the opportunities and strategies for technological cooperation with some of the foreign companies…” He added, “Ultimately, we hope to expand our business to the field of drugs using the nano-sized drug transporter…”