Roadmap for Immunomodulators

What are we trying to achieve and why? What is the problem we are trying to solve?

Investigating other new class of potential immunomodulators (peptides, nanozybiotics, metal–sulfide/oxides, carbon-based nanostructures…).

What are the scientific and technological challenges (knowledge gaps needing to be addressed)?

AMPs challenges:

• Stability in vivo environment;
• Administration route: -low oral bioavailability due to pre-systemic enzymatic degradation and poor penetration of the intestinal mucosa -short life in blood.

Enzybiotics (e.g. peptidoglycan hydrolases, proteases, and nuclease) challenges:

• Short half-life and raise of neutralizing antibodies in vivo due to their proteinaceous nature;
• Lack of stability outside optimum operating conditions.

What approaches could/should be taken to address the research question?

Develop recombinant systems to produce and purify AMPs at scale.
Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) or minimal microbicidal concentration (MMC) assays.
Investigate modification that can improve stability, safety, long term storage and reduce the cost of their productions.
Explore new biocompatible nanozybiotics using enzyme-like nanozymes.
Develop combination therapy using nanozybiotic.
Develop conjugation chemistries and release technologies (e.g., self-immolating, enzyme/microbial mediated).

What else needs to be done before we can solve this need?

Understanding mode of action of the AMPs.
Nanocarriers developments.
Cost-benefit of the preparations.

Existing knowledge including successes and failures