A new technology that uses engineered nanoparticles to eliminate disease-causing proteins could open the door to treatments for conditions long considered difficult to treat, including dementia and brain cancer, a new study said.
The research, published in Nature Nanotechnology, is led by Bingyang Shi, Chair Professor of Nanomedicine at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). It introduces a new class of nanoparticles called nanoparticle-mediated targeting chimeras (NPTACs). These particles are designed to bind to specific harmful proteins and guide them to the body’s natural recycling system, where they can be broken down and removed.
“Proteins are essential for nearly every function in the body, but when they become mutated, misfolded, or accumulate in the wrong place, they can trigger disease,” Shi said.
Many disorders, including cancer, dementia, and autoimmune diseases, are driven by abnormal proteins that do not respond well to existing drugs.
Targeting the ‘undruggable’, such as dementia, brain cancer
In recent years, targeted protein degradation has emerged as one of the fastest-growing areas in biotechnology. The idea is to destroy harmful proteins rather than merely blocking them.
However, current tools have struggled with poor tissue penetration, unintended side effects, and complex manufacturing—limitations that have made it hard to apply the approach to brain diseases and solid tumors.
The NPTAC platform aims to overcome these barriers. According to the researchers, the nanoparticles can be engineered to work both inside and outside cells, target specific tissues, and even cross the blood–brain barrier—a major obstacle in treating neurological conditions.
The Nature Nanotechnology article, titled Nanoparticle-mediated targeting chimeras transform targeted protein degradation, builds on an initial discovery published in October 2024. Shi worked with international collaborators Kam Leong of Columbia University and Meng Zheng of Henan University on the research.
Early promise, big market
The researchers say NPTACs are modular and scalable, using nanomaterials that are already approved or familiar to regulators. This could make them easier to translate from the lab to the clinic.
The platform can also be combined with diagnostic or therapeutic functions, potentially allowing doctors to track or enhance treatment in real time.
Preclinical studies have shown that the nanoparticles have strong activity against proteins such as EGFR, which often drives tumor growth, and PD-L1, which helps cancer cells evade the immune system. The technology is protected by multiple international patents.
Industry interest in targeted protein degradation is already high. Companies like Arvinas have raised more than $1 billion and secured multi-billion-dollar partnerships with major drugmakers. The global market for targeted protein degradation is expected to exceed $10 billion by 2030.
“This changes how we think about nanoparticles—not just as delivery vehicles, but as active therapeutic agents,” Shi said.
The research team is now seeking industry partners to accelerate clinical development and prepare the technology for regulatory approval, signaling that while the science is still at an early stage, its potential impact on medicine could be far-reaching.