Patent ID: 9346855
Filing Date: 2016-05-24
CPC Classification: C07K

Claim Text:
1. A compound capable of photo-triggered release of Fenton-reactive iron comprising: bacterioferritin; one or more tumor targeting peptides and/or tumor specific antibodies coupled to an outer surface of the bacterioferritin, wherein the tumor targeting peptides and/or tumor specific antibodies bind to predetermined cell surface receptors of tumor cells; one or more iron-containing molecules disposed in a core of the bacterioferrritin and a photosensitizing agent capable of reducing iron when irradiated with activating light coupled to the bacterioferritin, wherein the photosensitizing agent is selected from the group consisting of Zn-protoporphyrin IX and Zn-chlorin e6; wherein the photosensitizing agent is positioned at the same site where heme binds in the native bacterioferritin such that when the photosensitizing agent is irradiated with activating light the photosensitizing agent reduces the iron-containing molecules disposed in the core, causing the reduced iron-containing molecules to be released from the core.