The mission of the Cancer Biology Laboratory is to develop smart cancer therapeutics with increased potency and decreased side effects.
We use phage display screens to identify homing peptides that bind to specific targets in the vasculature. Corresponding synthetic peptides are explored for targeting drugs, biologicals, and nanoparticles into tumors to increase their therapeutic index. Our scope includes understanding the molecular interactions involved to drive specificity and activity, focusing on Tumor Penetrating Peptides (TPP) that trigger bulk extravascular transport in the tumor tissue.
News
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PL1: a bispecific peptide that targets extracellular matrix in solid tumors
Written on Tuesday, 10 September 2019 13:44
We report in Biomaterials the identification and development of a novel homing (affinity targeting) peptide that interacts with two landmark proteins in the extracellular matrix of… -
LinTT1 tumor penetrating peptide guided nanoparticles for improved imaging and therapy of glioblastoma
Written on Wednesday, 03 July 2019 15:55
In a collaborative study “Peptide-guided nanoparticles for glioblastoma targeting” published in Journal of Controlled Release we evaluated a novel tumor penetrating peptide that targets cell… -
Prof. Tambet Teesalu gave an inaugural lecture entitled “Nanomedicine: big opportunities in a small world”
Written on Monday, 20 May 2019 15:31
Prof. Tambet Teesalu gave an inaugural lecture entitled “Nanomedicine: big opportunities in a small world” in the main hall of the University of Tartu on…
Recent publications
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Bi-specific tenascin-C and fibronectin targeted peptide for solid tumor delivery
Written on Monday, 14 October 2019 15:46
Lingasamy P, Tobi A, Haugas M, Hunt H, Paiste P, Asser T, Rätsep T, Kotamraju VR, Bjerkvig R, Teesalu T. Biomaterials. 2019 Oct;219:119373. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119373.…Read more... -
Peptide-guided nanoparticles for glioblastoma targeting
Written on Wednesday, 03 July 2019 15:50
Säälik P, Lingasamy P, Toome K, Mastandrea I, Rousso-Noori L, Tobi A, Simón-Gracia L, Hunt H, Paiste P, Kotamraju VR, Bergers G, Asser T, Rätsep…Read more...
Images
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October
Peptide targeted polymersomes bind to M2 human macrophages
Polymersomes targeted with an M2 macrophage binding peptide (green) identified in our lab using phage display bind to and are taken up by M2s (red) originated from human primary monocytes.… -
September
Polymersomes targeted with an M2 macrophage binding peptide in a mouse model of triple negative breast cancer
Polymersomes targeted with an M2 macrophage binding peptide (green) identified in our lab using phage display home to M2 TAMs (red) after intravenous administration in a mouse model of triple… -
January
High infiltration of CD206+ cells in human breast tumors
Immunohistochemical staining of human CD206 (brown) with nuclear counterstain (Hematoxilin, in dark blue). Authors: Anni Lepland and Pablo Scodeller.
