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What are Corralling Amphipathic Peptide Colloids (CAPC™️)?

CAPC are an entirely new class of nanocarrier engineered from a naturally occurring peptide sequence found in a human heart channel protein. They allow for efficient encapsulation and improved cellular uptake of hydrophobic active ingredients. This allows small molecules with poor solubility and low cellular permeability to become viable drug candidates. CAPC also has surface binding capacity for intracellular delivery. The surface of CAPC allows for attachment of targeting moieties, ensuring active ingredients are delivered precisely to the cells where they are needed.

A Fully Customizable Carrier

Water solubilizes hydrophobic compounds

Programmable in size from 100-800 nanometers

Surface binding capacity

CAPC Advantages

Water soluble

Non-immunogenic

Stable at room temperature (releases contents in cells)

Minimally toxic to cells

Easily metabolized

Making CAPC Diagram

How does it Work?
Here are the steps for CAPC Payload Delivery:

1

The positively charged surface of CAPC meets a cell membrane.

2

The cell membrane envelopes CAPC and their cargo, forming an early endosome.

3

CAPC begin to breakdown in the late endosome releasing their contents in the perinuclear cytosol.

4

The new pH results in a reduction of electrostatic attraction, and the surface payload is released.

5

Surface bound nucleic acids and any encapsulated contents are released from the CAPC into the cytosol.

Applications for In Vitro
and In Vivo Research

Encapsulation or Surface Binding Capacity

Encapsulation of Hydrophobic Compounds: Small molecules, fat soluble vitamins, pheromones, and fatty acids.

Surface Binding Capacity: Proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, plasmids and CRISPR-Cas9 components

CAPC are rapidly taken up by all cells tested to-date. They enter cells through the endocytic pathway and are later metabolized in the cells. CAPC have been shown to effectively deliver nucleic acids, which are released in a time-dependent manner. They show negligible cytotoxicity when given at doses that exceed clinically relevant doses in cultured cells, fungi and insects. Working with CAPC makes it simple to move from in vitro research to in vivo applications.

View the Research