Antibody-Palladium Conjugates for Bioorthogonal Anti-Cancer Prodrug Activation

Precious metals such as palladium or gold can be implanted finely sliced into tumours with the aim of activating chemotherapeutic drugs within the cancerous tissue, thus reducing their side effects.

The development of antibodies directed towards tumour surface antigens is investigated as a novel targeted strategy with the aim to promote the release of drugs in a controlled manner exclusively at tumour sites.

The Unciti-Broceta Group propose the use of palladium, an abiotic metal, to develop Antibody-Palladium Conjugates (Pd-bioconjugate or Pd-Immunoconjugate) as catalytic cancer targeted antibodies in order to kill cancer cells/tumors by the localised release of clinical anticancer agents (prodrugs).