SUPRAMOLECULAR AGGREGATES CONTAINING AMPHIPHILIC MONOMERS, CHELATING AGENTS AND PEPTIDES FOR USE FOR DRUG DELIVERY AND AS CONTRAST AGENTS

摘要

Delivery systems based on liposomes functionalized with peptides and chelating agents, for therapy and imaging by selective targeting of tumour cells expressing the receptors GRP, BBl, BB2, BB3 e BB4 and any other receptor which recognizes the bombesin peptide or analogues thereof are described. In particular, the liposomes contain within them cytotoxic drugs, such as for example doxorubicin, for target-selective antitumour therapy, and, through the presence of the chelating agent, can contain radioactive or paramagnetic ions for the real time visualization of the tumour cells. The liposomes described in this invention thus act as a selective delivery system for drugs and/or contrast agents onto tumour cells expressing the receptors for the class of known peptides such as bombesin (endogenous sequence, analogous or peptidomimetic peptides, agonists or non agonists).