PINC Technology

Protease-induced nanocage (PINC) technology is developed in our group to control nanocage assembly for various biomedical applications.

We mimicked HIV-1 gag polypeptide precursors and created precursors of nanocages. Two ferritin subunits are linked with a fusion peptide encompassing the cleavage sequence for a site-specific protease such as enterokinase. These precursors can be efficiently overexpressed in bacterial systems and subsequently purified using affinity chromatographic methods. Upon the addition of enterokinase, the subunits are released, and ferritin-like nanocages are formed.

These precursors provide a versatile platform to decorate the nanocage's surface with therapeutic or targeting proteins/peptides and simultaneously encapsulate various hydrophobic or hydrophilic drugs.

Our group has filed a patent application for application this technology and we are currently working on developing multifunctional antivirals. This project is supported by an MRC Gap Fund and has entered King's Accelerator Spin out program as A-ProX venture.

See Publication

Our team working on developing and commercializing this technology in the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science at King's College London

Dr Kourosh H. Ebrahimi

Principle Investigator

Prof Mark Sutton

Co-PI & Advisor

Yujie Sheng

Thao Nghi Hoang

Research and Technology Development

Commercialisation and Communication