Peptide-Drug Conjugates Development for Breast Cancer

Peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) exhibit high specificity and affinity towards well-defined targets, thereby enhancing the therapeutic window of the conjugated drugs (payloads). Alfa Cytology offers development services for PDCs specifically designed for breast cancer.

Introduction to Peptide-Drug Conjugates

Peptide-drug conjugate (PDC) is an emerging targeted therapy drug that can improve tumor penetration and selectivity. Once the tumor cell apoptosis inducer (tumor drug) is combined with the tumor cell-targeting ligand molecule (carrier) through a reasonable means (linker), the targeted therapy of breast cancer (BC) can theoretically be achieved. Although PDC and ADC are similar in concept, their structures and properties are completely different. Compared with ADC, PDC can achieve tumor penetration with little immunogenicity. Moreover, the short polypeptide sequence of PDC and its more flexible structure make it easier to modify and couple such as introducing unnatural amino acids and forming cyclic peptides, which improve the targeting and stability of PDC.

Fig.1 Structure of a peptide-drug conjugate, PDC comprising a tumor-homing peptide, a linker, and a cytotoxic agent. (Vadevoo SMP, et al., 2023)

Our Services

Alfa Cytology can provide you with BC PDC development services. PDC consists of linker, homing peptide, and cytotoxic payload. Our services include:

• Synthesis of peptides in PDC

  Peptide type	Description
  Cell penetrating peptide (CPP)	CPP is a small molecule and short molecular polypeptide that can enter cells without destroying their membrane integrity. CPP has two common characteristics of positive charge and amphiphilicity in physiological environments and has been widely used in drug delivery systems.
  Cell targeting peptide (CTP)	There are two types of cell targeting peptides (CTP), passive targeting and active targeting. Passive targeting refers to the passive accumulation of drugs in the lesion tissue together with blood circulation. Actively targeted drugs are actively delivered to the lesion tissue. Most CTP-based PDCs are delivered through active targeting mechanisms.
  Reactive peptide	Reactive peptides are peptides that undergo structural changes under external stimuli. External environmental stimuli include temperature, pH, enzymes, etc. The weak acidity of the tumor microenvironment has also become a new way to target tumors.

• PDC linker preparation
  The linker is the connection bridge between the drug and the polypeptide in PDC, which determines the circulation time and stability of PDC in vivo. We can provide you with ideal linkers that are stable in circulation and can release drugs effectively. We provide non-cleavable and cleavable linkers according to your needs.
• Development of PDC payloads
  The payload of a PDC is a drug that exerts a cytotoxic or therapeutic effect. We can screen and verify effective drugs for you, considering all aspects of drug solubility, selectivity, circulation time in the body, bioavailability, side effects, and toxicity.

Advantages of Peptide-Drug Conjugates

Alfa Cytology focuses on the development of PDC drugs. Our team is composed of highly educated and high-quality professionals with good professional backgrounds and BC research experience. We have a complete set of technologies for PDC drug development. If you are interested in learning more about our BC therapy development services, please contact us. Our professional and patient staff will get in touch with you as soon as possible.