CTX-inho phage

CTX-inho phage is an research-stage engineered M13 bacteriophage-based nanocarrier platform developed for targeted imaging and therapeutic delivery to glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumors. The platform is produced by fusing a chlorotoxin (CTX) motif to the p3 capsid protein of the M13 phage, which enables the particles to cross the blood-brain barrier and home specifically to glioblastoma cells. It incorporates the 'inho' circular single-stranded DNA (cssDNA) gene packaging system, which allows for the production of miniature phage particles (approximately 50 nm in length) and the delivery of transcriptionally active cssDNA transgene cassettes. In preclinical mouse models of intracranial GBM22 glioblastoma, systemically administered CTX-inho phage conjugated with indocyanine green has demonstrated the ability to accumulate in brain tumors and enable shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging.