Pancreatic Targeting

Pancreas and pancreatic cells are very heterogeneous, which makes the drug delivery into the pancreas and e.g., insulin-secreting pancreatic β-cells very challenging. We have recently noticed that our L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1)- utilizing prodrug can accumulate very effectively into the pancreas. 

 

Therefore, we are interested in exploring :

1. if LAT1-utilizing prodrugs could be used to treat pancreas-related diseases, not only pancreatic cancer, but also pancreatitis and diabetes.

2. dual effects of LAT1-utilization, both in brain and pancreas to see if there is any connection between these organs, in diabetes-related neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease

 

Selected Publications

Utilization of LAT1 as a carrier to Target (Pro)drugs into the Pancreas

Tampio, J.; Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Huttunen, K. M. Hemocompatible L-Type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1)-Utilizing prodrugs of perforin inhibitors can accumulate into the pancreas and alleviate inflammation-induced apoptosis. Chemico-Biological Interactions, 2021, 345: 109560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2021.109560

Tampio, J.; Markowicz-Piasecka, M.; Montaser, A.; Rysä, J.; Kauppinen, A.; Huttunen, K. M. The L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 (LAT1) Utilizing Ferulic Acid Derivatives Show Increased Drug Delivery in Pancreas Along with Decreased Lipid Peroxidation and Prostaglandin Production. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2022, 19(11), 3806-3819. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00328