New Nanoparticle Technology Offers New Hope for Treating Hard-to-Treat Diseases
January 24, 2026 — Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), in collaboration with international partners, have developed a revolutionary nanoparticle technology that could transform the treatment of diseases traditionally difficult to manage, such as dementia, brain cancer, and autoimmune disorders. This breakthrough, detailed in a recent Perspective article published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, introduces a novel class of engineered nanoparticles called nanoparticle-mediated targeting chimeras (NPTACs).
Targeting the "Undruggable"
Proteins play vital roles in nearly every biological function within the human body. However, when proteins become mutated, misfolded, overproduced, or aggregate in the wrong locations, they disrupt normal cellular processes and can trigger debilitating diseases. Many such conditions—including certain cancers and neurodegenerative diseases like dementia—are driven by these abnormal proteins, some of which have been particularly challenging to target with existing drug therapies.
Led by Chair Professor Bingyang Shi of UTS’s Nanomedicine department, together with Professors Kam Leong of Columbia University and Meng Zheng of Henan University, the research team has engineered NPTACs to specifically bind and promote the degradation of these harmful proteins. Unlike previous approaches, NPTACs can target proteins both inside and outside cells, including those located in the brain, crossing the notoriously difficult blood-brain barrier.
A Plug-and-Play Modular Platform
One of the key advantages of the new technology is its modular and customizable design. According to Professor Shi, "We have developed an efficient and flexible method to guide disease-causing proteins into the body’s natural recycling system, where they can be broken down and removed." This system leverages FDA-approved nanomaterials and established synthesis strategies, enhancing its scalability and clinical translatability.
The NPTAC platform allows for rapid adaptation to a wide variety of protein targets, enabling tissue- and disease-specific targeting. It also supports multifunctional integration, meaning it can be combined with diagnostic or therapeutic tools to further enhance treatment precision and effectiveness.
Addressing Limitations of Current Therapies
Targeted protein degradation has emerged as a fast-growing area in biotechnology, with considerable commercial interest. However, existing methods face significant challenges, including poor tissue penetration, off-target effects, and difficulties in synthesis. These limitations have, to date, restricted their application in complex conditions like brain diseases and solid tumors.
The nanoparticle-based NPTAC technology overcomes many of these obstacles by facilitating more precise delivery and effective degradation of harmful proteins. Preclinical studies have shown promising results targeting major disease proteins such as EGFR, which often drives tumor growth, and PD-L1, a protein that helps cancer cells evade the immune system.
Implications and Future Directions
The progress made with NPTACs signals a new era in how nanoparticles are utilized—not merely as delivery vehicles but as active therapeutic agents themselves. With the targeted protein degradation market projected to exceed $10 billion USD by 2030, this platform offers substantial commercial potential across oncology, neurology, and immunology.
Currently protected by multiple international patents, the research team is seeking strategic industry partnerships to accelerate clinical development, expand licensing across therapeutic fields, and work toward regulatory approval.
In summing up, Professor Shi emphasized, “Our technology paves the way for smart, precision therapies that could significantly impact patient outcomes for diseases that have long resisted effective treatment.”
Publication Reference:
- Liu, Y., Shi, B., Leong, K., Zheng, M., et al. (2026). Nanoparticle-mediated targeting chimeras transform targeted protein degradation. Nature Nanotechnology. DOI: 10.1038/s41565-025-02081-1
For additional information, readers can access the original publication through Nature Nanotechnology and follow updates from the University of Technology Sydney’s Nanomedicine department.
