New Recombinant Carriers Binding Specifically to the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor.

New recombinant carriers-modular nanotransporters (MNTs)-with N-terminal ligand module to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were developed and characterized. Human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) and antibody-like protein Z ₁₉₀₇ were used as a ligand module. We demonstrated that MNTs are able to internalize in a receptor-specific manner into the target cancer cells and to accumulate in the target cell nuclei. Conjugation of MNTs with the Auger electron emitter ¹¹¹ In significantly enhanced the cytotoxic effect of ¹¹¹ In on the target cells. It was found that the transfer of EGF from the C-terminus to the N-terminus of the MNT enhanced the proliferation of target cells, whereas the use of Z ₁₉₀₇ did not have a similar effect.