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nCage Therapeutics

A protein cage that opens on command

Protein cages are synthetic virus-like particles (VLPs). They display biological material on their surface, and carry molecules such as nucleic acids or proteins into the interior of the cell.

Get in touch How the cage works

TRAP-cage, assembled from rings of the bacterial TRAP protein

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nCage Therapeutics is developing a novel synthetic protein cage based on the bacterial TRAP protein

The platform

What are TRAP-cages?

TRAP-cages are protein cages formed from rings of the bacterial TRAP protein. They act like a virus — displaying biological material on their surface, or transporting nucleic acids and proteins into the cell — without carrying any genetic material of their own.

Fig. 01TRAP-cage structure. Twenty-four protein rings held at their vertices by gold(I) ions, shown in yellow.

Synthetic virus-like particles

Formed by multiple copies of modified or de novo protein components, designed to assemble into stable, hollow shapes.
Built on the bacterial TRAP protein.
Akin to synthetic viral particles, but without nucleic material.
The exterior carries mounted protein or other biological material.
Proteins can be mounted in repeating arrays, mimicking the patterns found in nature.

Programmable opening

Programmable opening and closing is unique to the TRAP-cage platform.
Cargo is loaded into the interior of the cage and released inside cells.
Cargo can be proteins, peptides, nucleic acids or small molecule drugs.

What makes it different

Loaded shut. Opened on cue.

01
Closed
Gold(I) links hold the protein rings together. The cargo is sealed inside and protected in circulation.
02
Triggered
Inside the cell, a reducing agent breaks the gold links. Nothing else about the cage has to change.
03
Released
The cage falls apart and delivers its payload where it is needed — not on the way there.

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Where we apply it

Two segments of focus

One platform, two therapeutic problems it is unusually well suited to.

Synthetic VLP Vaccines

Stronger and more durable vaccines against respiratory disease, with antigens mounted on both the outside and the inside of the cage.

Read the science

Antibody Drug Conjugates

A safer profile for blockbuster anti-cancer drugs, by holding the payload shut until the cage reaches the target cell.

See delivery systems

Working on vaccines or targeted delivery?

We partner with pharmaceutical companies and research groups on programmes where antigen density, payload protection or controlled release is the bottleneck.

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