Bac-ELP-DOXO

Bac-ELP-DOXO is a research-stage biopolymer-drug conjugate consisting of the cell-penetrating peptide Bactenecin (Bac) fused to an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) carrier, which is in turn conjugated to doxorubicin (DOXO) via a pH-sensitive (acid-labile) hydrazone linker. The ELP component is thermally responsive, undergoing a phase transition and aggregating at tumor sites when mild hyperthermia (~40–42°C) is applied, enabling targeted drug delivery. The hydrazone linker releases doxorubicin in the acidic environment of lysosomes/endosomes following cellular uptake. Doxorubicin's primary biological target is DNA topoisomerase II, and the drug is intended for the treatment of solid tumors, including breast cancer. Bac-ELP-DOXO was studied comparatively alongside other CPP-ELP-DOXO conjugates (e.g., Tat-ELP-DOXO and SynB1-ELP-DOXO) in preclinical research. The work originates from academic research groups at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Tumor Biology Center, Freiburg.