Enzyme‐Instructed Nanofibrous Assemblies Enable Targeted PROTAC Release for Cancer Therapy

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have emerged as a promising strategy for the selective degradation of oncoproteins, offering significant potential in cancer therapy, yet their clinical translation is impeded by the inherent limitations, including high hydrophobicity, poor cellular permeability, and inadequate tumor-targeting efficiency. To address these challenges, we developed a rationally engineered peptide conjugate, Nap-Lys(ARV-771)-Tyr(H<sub>2</sub>PO<sub>3</sub>)-Phe-Phe-OH (NapYp-ARV), to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of PROTACs through sequential enzyme-instructed self-assembly (EISA) and activation. Upon intratumoral phosphatase-mediated dephosphorylation, NapYp-ARV self-assembles into nanofibers that enhance tumor accumulation. Following cellular internalization, carboxylesterase-catalyzed hydrolysis liberates the PROTAC payload ARV-771, inducing potent BRD4 degradation and consequent apoptosis. In vivo, NapYp-ARV administration achieved higher tumor drug concentration than free ARV-771, driving robust protein degradation and tumor regression while maintaining hematological and histological safety. Collectively, this EISA-based delivery platform offers a versatile strategy to advance targeted PROTAC therapies.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Healthcare Materials
Published
2026-02-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202505105
Primary Topic
Protein Degradation and Inhibitors
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Enzyme‐Instructed Nanofibrous Assemblies Enable Targeted PROTAC Release for Cancer Therapy

Yuchen Yang, Zheng Fu, 美 辰 潘, Chunrong Yang et al.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
Protein Degradation and Inhibitors
article

Enzyme‐Instructed Nanofibrous Assemblies Enable Targeted PROTAC Release for Cancer Therapy

Yuchen Yang, Zheng Fu, 美 辰 潘, Chunrong Yang, Hongwei Hou, Jinghong Li, Libing Wu
article en

Abstract

Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have emerged as a promising strategy for the selective degradation of oncoproteins, offering significant potential in cancer therapy, yet their clinical translation is impeded by the inherent limitations, including high hydrophobicity, poor cellular permeability, and inadequate tumor-targeting efficiency. To address these challenges, we developed a rationally engineered peptide conjugate, Nap-Lys(ARV-771)-Tyr(H<sub>2</sub>PO<sub>3</sub>)-Phe-Phe-OH (NapYp-ARV), to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of PROTACs through sequential enzyme-instructed self-assembly (EISA) and activation. Upon intratumoral phosphatase-mediated dephosphorylation, NapYp-ARV self-assembles into nanofibers that enhance tumor accumulation. Following cellular internalization, carboxylesterase-catalyzed hydrolysis liberates the PROTAC payload ARV-771, inducing potent BRD4 degradation and consequent apoptosis. In vivo, NapYp-ARV administration achieved higher tumor drug concentration than free ARV-771, driving robust protein degradation and tumor regression while maintaining hematological and histological safety. Collectively, this EISA-based delivery platform offers a versatile strategy to advance targeted PROTAC therapies.

Advanced Healthcare Materials
Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN), Hunan University (CN), Hefei National Center for Physical Sciences at Nanoscale (CN), Beijing Academy of Science and Technology (CN), Tsinghua University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 42%
Protein Degradation and Inhibitors
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