Dendrimer-LF Conjugation Service

Lactoferrin (LF) is a glycoprotein belonging to the transferrin (TF) family. Dendrimers can cross the blood-brain barrier through brain-specific LF receptor-mediated cytokinesis when binding to LF. CD BioSciences has advanced facilities and experienced scientists to provide high quality dendrimer-LF conjugation services.

Introduction into Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin (LF), also known as lactotransferrin (LTF), is a naturally occurring cationic glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 80 KDa. As a multifunctional protein of the transferrin family, LF shares 60% sequence similarity with serum transferrin and has important immunological properties as a component of the human immune system. It is transferred to cells, serum, bile, and cerebrospinal fluid through various receptors. It has been shown that, in addition to its known anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activities, LF can bind to certain receptors required by SARS-CoV-2 to prevent their entry into host cells. As a ligand for targeted drug delivery systems, LF has the potential to target multiple mechanisms simultaneously.

Advantages of LF as a Ligand

LF has the following advantages when used as an active targeting ligand in a targeted drug delivery system.

• The receptors that can bind to LF are widely expressed on the surface of many cells, including brain endothelial cells, respiratory epithelial cells, liver cells and cancer cells.
• LF with cationic properties can bind to cellular anionic ligands to promote cellular uptake and internalization through charge-based interactions.
• LF binds to cancer cells and blood-brain barrier (BBB) cell surface TF receptors (TFRs) and LF membrane internalization receptors (LFRs) to facilitate entry into the nucleus.
• LF amino acid sequence is similar in many mammals and is easier to prepare compared to small peptides.

Structure of bovine, human and rabbit lactoferrin. (Kell DB, et al., 2020)

Dendrimer-LF Conjugation

As a promising therapeutic strategy, gene therapy is widely used in the treatment of diseases. However, the potential use of genes as drugs for the treatment of brain diseases is greatly limited by the lack of safe and effective delivery systems, the difficulty in crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the secondary effects on healthy tissues after intravenous injection. There is therefore an urgent need to develop safe and effective non-viral gene nanodrugs that can cross the BBB. Since iron can reach the brain through TFR overexpressed on the BBB, targeting TFR strategies have been extensively studied. Since many natural ligands can bind to a wide range of cell surface specific receptors, ligands are important in targeted drug delivery systems. Dendrimers are one of the most attractive drug carriers for targeted drug delivery when combined with many ligands capable of binding to specific receptors on the cell surface. Ligands used to enhance the targeting of dendrimers are vitamins (folic acid, biotin), peptides (T7, RGD, LF), various antibodies and aptamers. When bound to LF, the dendrimer can cross the BBB to achieve targeted drug delivery.

Our Services

As a fast growing and leading global provider of scientific research services and solutions, CD BioSciences offers you dendrimer-LF conjugation services. We are committed to meeting all your detailed requirements and guarantee that all deliverables are subjected to rigorous quality testing.

Service Process

CD BioSciences is committed to helping our customers meet the growing and evolving demand for dendrimers products. We offer a wide range of services related to dendrimers and ensure quality and reliability of results as well as on-time delivery. If you are interested in our services or have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us, we are happy to hear from you and look forward to working with you.

Reference

1. Kell DB.; et al. The Biology of Lactoferrin, an Iron-Binding Protein That Can Help Defend Against Viruses and Bacteria. Front Immunol. 2020, 11: 1221-1256.